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Six year old girl cries out against her teacher

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Reported by: Laurie Salazar

Email: LaurieSalazar@woaitv.com

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Published: 9/11/2012 5:27 pm

Updated: 9/11/2012 5:52 pm

SAN ANTONIO - An elementary teacher with Northeast ISD has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a sexual assault investigation.

School officials say the investigation got underway on Friday when a 6-year-old little girl cried out to her mom. The alleged incident happened at Montgomery Elementary on the Northeast side.

We are protecting her identity, but the little girl had started a new school year excited to enter the first grade. After a few days that all changed.

“When I brought her home, and she wouldn't stop crying, I asked her what was wrong. She told me she was uncomfortable with her teacher, she didn't like him.”

And after much prying, relatives say they were shocked at why she no longer wanted to go to school. The child told her family the teacher had touched her inappropriately.

Her family immediately notified the school on Friday and a meeting was scheduled with parents and school officials yesterday. But the family was not satisfied with the outcome, so they distributed a letter to parents notifying them of the incident.

“She wasn't treated fairly; they opened and closed the case in the same day.”

“So as far as what the mom was told yesterday, the administration side of the investigation is complete,” explained Aubrey Chancellor, NEISD spokesperson.

Chancellor also said the administrative part of the investigation is complete, and it now goes to campus police to look into. She confirmed that six other students in the class were interviewed as part of their investigation.

“I can't tell you specifics of how an investigation takes place, but I can tell you that it is very standard procedure that when an allegation is made like this to interview the students.”

In a letter the little girl's family is urging parents who have children at the school to talk to their kids and find out if they have been harmed in anyway.

The school has sent out their own letter informing parents about the incident.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of News 4 WOAI (WOAI.com)

donoho - 10/9/2012 12:28 PM

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I have to say, @glad1, that unless you know this particular child, and know them very, very well, you are a raging lunatic, and your “opinion” is stupid. If you DO know the child, AND the teacher, your opinion may be more valid, but you’re still going to have to prove the accusation is true. @bigralphsmith, I absolutely understand, and sympathize with your position. You’re right…when it comes to a “child” any adult is guilty until proven innocent. I hope that when you were falsely accused and proven innocent, you brought suit against the parents. You probably didn’t though, because at that point you were sick of the entire process and just wanted to wipe them off the bottom of your shoe. My respect to you for your decision.

bigralphsmith - 9/27/2012 6:49 AM

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I have been falsely accused by children, not for anything so serious as sexual assault, but children have lied about me more than once. Fortunately, in all the instances I have been falsely accused of something by a child, there was incontrovertible evidence that I was innocent, (not just "not guilty"). I now fear children and the adults who claim to "defend" them. That's why I now treat children as toxic. All children. I do not allow children in my home, vehicle, or on my property, not even children of my friends and family. I do not ever allow a child to come into contact with my person for ANY reason. I NEVER allow myself to be in any situation where there are not at least three other people present if there is at least one child within 200 feet. If a child was hurt in the street, I would not help them because our society now immediately suspects males of wrong doing regardless of the circumstances or situation. I would agonize and cry and feel terrible but society has shown me that, when it comes to kids, my rights, my very humanity, are immaterial. I therefore have taken the steps I believe necessary to protect myself. Not so much from kids themselves, but from the adults who immediately lose their minds at the word "child". Did this teacher really do this? I don't know. An accusation from the family of a 6-year-old is definitely NOT proof of a crime. Children are easily manipulated and can be influenced to lie by parents who are completely unaware that they are leading their kids answers when "interviewing" (read interrogating) them. So, all you hassoles who think kids are "perfect" and "great" and "innocent" need a wake up call to reality. Your little carpet vermin are not perfect and your an effing idiot if you think they are.

Talula - 9/21/2012 5:08 PM

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These days, I wouldn't necessarily believe a student over a teacher, without proof. I'm no expert, but don't think a normal six year old child, in the first grade, is capable of being that emotionally upset and making that kind of stuff up. Of course, the fact that the teacher is male, makes him an immediate suspect.. Seems that sexploitating female teachers can Get Away with almost anything, atleast for a while. Anyway, this teacher Needs to be put on leave, etc, & criminally Investigated.

glad1 - 9/14/2012 8:47 AM

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If this animal gets to keep teaching I want my taxes back , I do not give money for sick pedophilles to work , I believe the child in this and so should the authorities , this is my opinion

averagejane - 9/14/2012 4:21 AM

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I beleive that we live in a great country when there are people out there living today with such narrow minds. When the comment "it takes a village" to raise our children, I am pretty certain that a village consists of both men and women. Shame on those for impling that men are only out for one thing with regard to teaching our children. As a society, we should always be prepared to help our neighbor. As good parents, it is our job and duty to maintain an atmosphere that allows our children to tell the truth. Even after possibly telling a fib. Part of mistakes and discipline are to teach ethics that display good character. Children should not fear the results of getting caught or for admitting to wrong doing to the point that they are not capable of being forthright. I know as a mother and parent, I would not stand still if i thought my child has been assaulted. However, I would as a parent exhaust all avenues to ensure that I have all the facts and a full invetigation to everyones satisfaction. Making sure that all efforts have been made both routine and intensive regarding the investigation. As a parent, I beleive it is also my job to teach my child that we have to follow protocol and allow our "system" the ability to work and protect us. Before we place ourselves in the position of being "above the law" and condeming someone who has not been fairly investigated, tried, or convicted. I fear that the school district may not have giving this the attention needed to satisfy the parent, leaving them no choice but to advise other parents to be aware of what happened to their child. It seems to me that an administrative investigation can not be opened and closed if the parent is not in agreement. At this point guilty or not, that burden is now on the school to prove and resolve. If the teacher is guilty, prosecuting to the fullest extent is what we have to accept, but it's not enough.

SraSanAnto - 9/13/2012 1:29 PM

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Little lady I agree..But also when a child starts first grade and realizes she is now needed to do more work, might have a strict teacher, might not be able to make friends, kids bullying, whatever the case may be..If you keep prying or possibly filing in the blanks..they will pick the one that is more likely going to get the results she wants..I don't think It should have taken "MUCH PRYING" I think prying leads to suggestive answers...

Lervia - 9/13/2012 1:28 PM

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MANY years ago, when my youngest sister was in the second grade, she began showing major warning signs. She'd be throwing up and running fever until the school bus left after picking up the rest of us, then her temperature would come back down to normal and she'd feel even better than 100%. The problem wasn't sexual abuse. It was the way the teacher handled and disciplined the kids. If one needed a spanking (yes, it was long enough ago that those things were given with a wooden paddle), all the kids in the class got one. And, they'd all line up and get swats for ONE student forgetting to put a period at the end of a sentence, or similar ridiculous infractions. This was also back in the day that teachers had control over their own classrooms, teaching methods, and discipline methods. There were some limited rules, but there really wasn't much oversight. Little sister suffered through that school year, even though things did improve due to parental involvement. But, the damage had been done. The following year, she got the teacher that everybody wanted to avoid because she always seemed mean and overly strict. But, she recognized immediately the mental angst from the previous year that Little sister was suffering from and became the best teacher she ever had and brought her back from the depths of despair, at EIGHT years old.

little lady - 9/13/2012 12:51 PM

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When a child who normally is happy and enjoys doing things is suddenly crying and not wanting to go to school it is a HUGE WARNING SIGN!!! Especially at 6 years old. Sure the parents probably had to pry a little. She'll have a limited vocabulary and ability to discuss things of that nature at that age. I work with kids who are in need of assistance for various reasons and it is mind boggling when parents don't notice drastic changes in their kids' behavior. When a child, especially a small child, flips the script suddenly like that then you can be assured that SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THEM. I see it constantly. Parents will say "well she used to enjoy going to school and dancing but then six months ago she stopped wanting to go, stays in her room all day and doesn't want to do anything". Wake up parents....something happened to your child that they can't cope with.

wisemanjro - 9/13/2012 12:05 PM

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Hey fedupmom, what if the teacher is telling the truth? Should we believe a child that may be lying and persecute an innocent person, just for the sake of the child, or to pacify the parents?

fedupmom - 9/12/2012 9:00 PM

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And FYI - if you think your kids have been abused by a school employee - call 911. Don't expect the district to do anything because they really can't do much beyond suspending the staff member. And expect the process to take MONTHS!

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