A PE teacher of mine in highschool got suspended and stripped of his coaching duties just a year or 2 ago for allegedly being racist among other things. When I had him, considering how unactive I am and the fact that he's a PE teacher who made me run, I didn't have much of a problem with him. He, unlike others, realized with my weight I can't keep going without stopping and I respected him for it and he didn't act like a drill sergeant. He still pushed me a little, which is good because I needed to shed the weight. My instinct is to hate PE teachers in general but mine weren't as bas as most.
However, some of the stuff he did was pretty nasty if it's true. Unfortunately due to the number eyewitness accounts it looks like he is guilty. I can't believe he wasn't fired. Here is everything he apparently did or said:
In bold are the main things of importance, I know you don't want to read it all.
Incident Report: December 5, 2007
-- Teacher stated "White does right, black does wrong." This was said in response to student's comment of (paraphrased), "You wouldn't say anything if I was white."
** Teacher's statement verified verbatim bv six students (STUDENTS #1, 6, 12, 13, 17, and 18)
** In Mr. Eller's written statement, he admits to making this comment - but he changes the context in which it was said.
-- Student commented (paraphrased), [/b]"You sound like one of those old white guys in the KKK." Teacher responded (paraphrased), "You never know - I might be."[/b]
** Statement verified by seven students (STUDENTS #1, 2, 6, 12, 13, 17, and 18)
-- Teacher stated (paraphrased), "I'll just get my bruhs' to come burn your house down." When it was noted by a classmate that STUDENT #1 was mixed, teacher stated, "I'll make sure that ill the white folks are at the grocery store."
** Statements verified by six students (STUDENTS #1, 2, 6, 12, 13, and 17)
The above-listed students are the only ones we could verify were in the area of the incident (near exit doors). Other students interviewed from this class reported no knowledge of the incident - but also reported that they were either in the gym or on the stage at the time. No student who reported being in the area confined Mr. Ellei-s version of the story.
-- In Mr. Eller's written statement, he mentioned on three occasions that STUDENT #1 was screaming. Two times he noted that she "screamed at me, " and once noted that she "screamed at her" (referring to STUDENT #2). All students interviewed reported that there was no screaming. In fact, they made note that STUDENT #1 was '@pretty cool about it, " or "kind of laughing." STUDENT #2 also noted that there was no screaming at her. In fact, she stated, "They wasn't, like, being all serious..."
Though Mr. Eller's discipline referral history shows numerous write-ups for disrespectful and insubordinate behaviors (and also minor issues like gum-chewing and tardies), there was no referral completed on STUDENT #1 following this incident. When asked about this in the 12/17/07 interview, he stated, "A referral that says she's screaming at me implies I don't know what I'm doing."
It is important to note that the statements gathered verbally from students during interviews on 117108 matched the students' written statements gathered on 12/10, 11, and 12 of 2007. 42% (13 of 31) of the students present on the day of the incident were interviewed.
History of Student Reports / Pattern of Teacher Behavior
-- Teacher comments relating to KKK activity and burning of property:
** December 5, 2007 - Six students verify teacher's comments regarding KKK involvement and burning house down (see page 1).
** December 8, 2006 - On 12/8/06, student reported - in writing - Mr. Eller's statement ot "I'm going to stand in front of STUDENT #3's house with a cross and gasoline." This statement was verified by STUDENT #4 and one witness, STUDENT #5, during an interview on 1/8/08.
-- Incidents of teacher hitting students in face with athletic equipment:
-- December, 2007 - STUDENT #6 reported that Mr. Eller threw a tennis ball at her repeatedly ("4 or 5 times") while in the midst of a whiffle-ball game in the gym. She asked him to stop, but he continued. At one point, she was not paying attention and was hit in the mouth by a tennis ball thrown by Mr. Eller.
** This incident was verified by STUDENTS #8, 12, and 19.
** This incident was also addressed by Coach Eller himself, in that he called a meeting with the student's mother to discuss it. This conference was held on 12/14/07. During an interview with Mr. Eller on 12117107, he stated that STUDENT #6 had been hit in the mouth with a ball thrown by another student.
-- September 15, 2005 - (Report taken from principal's notes of conference with student / parent.) Student reports that Mr. Eller was getting basketballs out of the equipment room for class. He was bouncing them to everyone else but threw it at STUDENT #7 and hit him in the face.
** During conference with STUDENT #7 on 1/9/08, he recounted the incident verbally as it had been recorded in 2005.
Incidents of teacher intervention between Mr. Eller and other student:
-- October 25, 2007 - Coach G. Hall intervened between STUDENT 48 and Mr. Eller during verbal confrontation; brought student to office.
-- April 12, 2006 - Coach R. Vandergriff intervened between STUDENT #9 and Mr. Eller during verbal confrontation; brought student to office.
** During interviews on 11/1/08, both coaches reported intervening because
they felt it necessary to remove the studentfrom the situation. It should be noted that both coaches reported that these students went willingly with them upon their request.
History of Student Reports / Pattern of Teacher Behavior (continued)
Incidents of teacher making sexually degrading comments:
-- December 8, 2006 - Written statement from STUDENT #4 (on 12/8/06) notes that Mr. Eller stated, "What can I get for 25 cents? STUDENT #4, what can I get for 25 cents?" Further she noted that Mr. Eller had commented, "Where your other shorts at?"
** During interview with student on 1/8/08, she recounted statement as "Wonder what STUDENT #4 do for a nickel? STUDENT #4, what you do for a nickel?" She stated that she didn't understand the reference of the comment until some other students laughed and told her what he meant. During the same interview, she also recounted that she started changing how she dressed in gym class specifically, no more shorts - because Mr. Eller made her "very uncomfortable. "
-- September 15, 2005 - (Report taken from principal's notes of 9/15/05 conference with STUDENT #7 and parent.) Student reports that Mr. Eller was making fun of his squeaky voice, saying he hadn't hit puberty. Mr. Eller also commented that "Your voice sounds like your mom when I'm doing her."
** During phone conference with father on 1/9/08, he recounted the information exactlv as it had been recorded in 2005. During conference with STUDENT #7 on 1/9/08, he recounted Mr. Eller's statement as, "Your voice sounds like your mom last night. "
-- October 10, 2005 - Student referred to office by Eller for saying he was going to f----- g kill you," and "I'm going to f--- your wife." Student suspended 45 days. .
** During interview with STUDENT #10 on 12/17/07, he admitted to both of those statements, saying, "I admit, I acted out of proportion. " However, the student notes that his statements were in response to Mr. Eller saying, "I f ----- d your mama." This incident happened when the two were alone in the locker room.
Incidents of students reporting an inability to pass PE regardless of performance:
-- January 8, 08 - During an interview, STUDENT #4 reported: "He didn't like me for some reason. I did everything he told me to and I still failed... bad."
-- November 17, 2005 - Parent letter received by principal, stating: "... Coach Elder (sic) repeatedly told STUDENT #1 1, 'I don't like you' and berated (him) in front of the class, and then further stated that regardless of (his) performance, Coach Elder planned to fail (him) simply because he didn't like (him)."
** On 1/8/08, a phone conversation was held with this parent, She recounted the incident exactly as she had stated in her letter from 2005. STUDENT #11 was also interview by phone. He stated, "He didn't like me. No matter what l did l'd fail. l couldn't do anything right."
History of Student Reports / Pattern of Teacher Behavior (continued)
Incidents involving students reporting discriminatory treatment:
-- December 2007 - STUDENTS #1, 6, and 13 report being singled out unfairly during the process of taking their end-of-term fitness test for Mr. Eller. STUDENT #13 reports being made to take the entire test in a day, when others were given several days to complete it. STUDENTS #1 and 6 report not being called to perform portions of their test with the rest of the class.
**This was verified by STUDENT #12. She stated that when she asked Afr. Eller if she should call their names (STUDENT #1 and STUDENT 46), he responded, "No - it doesn't matter. " She further verified that when STUDENT #6 was completing the push-up portion of the test, Mr. Eller refused to countfor her, and then refused to answer her three times when she asked how many she had done. In addition to this witness, three others also verified these incidents. (STUDENTS #12, 17, and 19) See Appendix C.
** This is also verified in on page 3 of Mr. Eller's written statement, (App. A) where he notes that in response to the student asking him if she was going to "get to make up her fitness test because she had not even dressed out, I replied, 'you never know. "'
-- December, 2007 - STUDENTS #1 and 6 also report being ignored by Mr. Eller during a period of several days at the end of the term. In Ms. McCormick's notes from parent conference on 12/14/07, it is stated:
** "We discuss the fact that STUDENT #6's feelings are hurt because Coach Eller has not been talking to her. Coach Eller apologizes for hurting her feelings.
** During interview with Mr. Eller on 12117107, he stated.- "No, I'm not talking to STUDENT #1 or STUDENT #6 - we discussed that. "
-- December 12, 2007 - In written statement from STUDENT #1 to principal, she noted that she was prepared to dress out and take fitness test, but Mr. Eller would not unlock the locker room for her. She recounted this statement exactly in interview held on 1/7/08. Further, this incident was also witnessed and verified by STUDENT #12.
-- October 31, 2007 - STUDENT #13 reported during 1/7/08 interview that she felt she had been treated unfairly by Mr. Eller on more than one occasion. She specifically mentioned an incident where another student (a basketball player) was repeatedly throwing kickballs at her during the game "Star Wars." He repeatedly struck her, even though she was in an area where she was considered "safe." She asked Mr. Eller to make her stop, and he ignored her. She ultimately lost her temper and cursed at the student who was targeting her. She then walked off the floor and sat next to Mr. Eller. Despite the fact that there was no interaction or conversation with the student at this time, Mr. Eller wrote a referral regarding her inappropriate language - and STUDENT # 1 3 was suspended.]/b]
** This incident was witnessed and verified by STUDENT #12 during interview on 1/7/08.
History of Student Reports / Pattem of Teacher Behavior (continued)
Incidents of students reporting inappropriate / derogatory language from Mr. Eller:
-- May 7, 2007 - Written report from STUDENT #20 stating that Mr. Eller had
[b]called him a "little son-of-a-bitch" when bringing him into the office.]/b] This statement was verified verbally to Assistant Principal Kim McCormick (KM) by three witness - STUDENTS #21, 22, and the SRO. Upon begin asked to write their statements, STUDENT 422 and the SRO declined to verify their account in writing. STUDENT #21 did verify this statement - verbatim - in writing. Mr. Eller was notified of the accusations via e-mail and was given a chance to respond. His written statement indicates that the student called him an SOB. Neither STUDENT #22 nor the SRO noted this.
** These statements verified through phone interview with KM on 1/1 7108.
-- April 12, 2006 - Report from STUDENT #9 that Mr. Eller called him a "jackass" and a "p----y" during verbal altercation in class. (This incident also noted in Appendix F.)[b] Mr. Eller admits to saying the student was "acting like" a jackass. This is verified in written notes from the Assistant Principal KM on 4/12/06.
** This report was verified through phone interview with student on 1/1 7108. This report was further verified by interview with KM on the same date. Her written statements were also verified through this interview.
Incidents of demeaning behavior towards Special Education students:
-- While interviewing random class members regarding 12/5/07 incident, one student - STUDENT #16 - mentioned witnessing Mr. Eller behaving inappropriately towards CDC students. Specifically, this student reported seeing him "mocking" the students and "Imitating the way they talk."
-- During phone interview with STUDENT #9 on 1/17/08, student stated that he
didn't like "the way he (BE) treated people." When asked to specify, he stated, "The way he treated the CDC people. He acted like he was freaked out and didn't want them near him."
Written Reprimand on file from previous Principal, Eddie Gravitte
-- Letter of reprimand written 4/12/06, given and signed 4/18/06. Reprimand was given for insubordinate behavior towards principal. The insubordinate behavior was related to an incident that occurred between STUDENT #9 and Mr. Eller, specifically regarding the student's cell phone.
-- STUDENT #9 reported to Mr. Gravitte (ELG) that Mr. Eller had gotten into his backpack and taken his cell phone, ELG and the student approached Mr. Eller while on bus duty and asked for the phone, at which time he said he didn't have it. STUDENT #9 borrowed another student's phone and stood outside of Mr. Eller's locked office while calling the number. He could hear his phone (which was set on "vibrate") buzzing within the office. He went to ELG to tell him, at which time the principal escorted STUDENT #9 back to the locked office and called the number himself. He verified that the phone was, in fact, in Mr. Eller's locked office. He called Mr. Eller and had him return to school to retrieve and return the phone, Above verified by student interview on 1/17/08.
Other student / guardian reports, previously unaddressed
-- April 18, 2007 - Office referral on STUDENT #14 notes a refusal to take off her hooded sweatshirt and then vulgar language towards teacher when asked to leave class. During interview on 1/8/08, student admitted to having on hood and to using vulgar language, but STUDENT #14 also notes "...he cussed right back at me. We was going at it like we were two adults -,Jike I was grown." She further alleges that he made her leave his class after a two-day suspension for the above incident though she had done nothing wrong. She also stated the following: "I have class with him again this semester and I want out. That's not going to work."
-- October 29, 2007 - Office referral on STUDENT #15 due to leaving class without pen-nission and vulgar language towards teacher. During an interview with STUDENT # 15 on 12/17/07, he stated that these problems with Mr. Eller began "a couple years ago." He further stated that he has heard Mr. Eller use the "n-word," and that a basketball player (unnamed) commented, "He says that all the time." This player would not verify this when asked by administration. STUDENT #1 5 stated that Mr. Eller often called him "boy," and that once when he called Mr. Eller "boy" in return, the teacher responded, "Boy, I'll show what a boy is... meet me after school." STUDENT #15 stated that he was removed from the class and no longer has trouble with Mr. Eller.
** On an office referral regarding the same student in 2005 (12115105), Afr. Eller noted STUDENT 415's race as "N. " There is a letter from K. McCormick in the file requesting a conference in order to discuss this issue - no response on file.
Probably my longest post ever.
Slumdog Millionare - 10/10
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