Deptford, NJ – A New Jersey teacher faces discipline after being recorded telling a special-needs student that he was a “tard” and responding sarcastically to the student’s pleas not to be called “special.”
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Superintendent Michael Dicken says the Gloucester County Special Services District board placed the teacher on paid leave Wednesday but will not say what discipline he faces.
The student’s parents told ABCNews.com, first to report the case, that their 15-year-old son had been bullied before. They urged him to use his cellphone to record video of the teacher.
In the video, the teacher tells the student: “You want me to call you normal, and you don’t even know what it is.”
The district didn’t identify
It is generally inappropriate to call a developmentally challenged child a “tard”. The teacher demonstrated poor judgement.
If true… they should publish the persons name and picture. this person should never be allowed to teach again!
His name is Steven Roth. Not the musician.
…who’s David Lee Roth.
Fox News identified the teacher as Steve Roth. He should be fired, forthwith! It is bad enough that students bully other students. However, teachers bullying students, especially special needs students, is a bunch of garbage. I saw the tape of the teacher harassing the student. He has used his position of authority to harass and intimidate someone who depends on him for guidance.
well, I was flabbergasted when I heard a frum woman who was a teacher say “I teach special ed, you know, I have the stupid ones”
This Roth should be “disbarred” from teaching. And paying him to sit in the rubber room? Disgraceful. He gives teachers a bad name. Thank G-d most are nothing like him.
Is our community free of such teachers and biases?
If not, what steps can we take to protect our children?
You have to give credit to this young person for keeping his cool and just turning on his recording device. That really is brilliant. Many non-disabled people would not have the yishuv hadaat to do that. There is a lesson there.