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Aug 24, 2009 11:12 pm US/Central
Crowd Rails Against Teachers Who Ridiculed Student
ANOKA, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Alex Merritt said he does not want another student to have to go through what he did. He is the student two teachers harassed and ridiculed because they thought he was gay. He said he is not.
CBS
It was standing-room only at the Anoka-Hennepin School District meeting Monday night.
Concerned citizens packed the board room to voice their opposition to the way the district handled two teachers who ridiculed a student because they thought he was gay.
Alex Merritt said he does not want another student to have to go through what he did. Merritt is at the center of a controversy inside the Anoka-Hennepin School District.
He is the student two teachers harassed and ridiculed because they thought he was gay. He said he is not.
"No one should be picked on. Those teachers nailed the coffin shut for the kids who really are homosexual in their class," said Merritt.
He said he lost friends and became depressed because of the harassment by the two teachers.
A group of concerned people raised their voice in opposition on his behalf. They said the teachers violated the Teacher Code of Ethics that says a teacher shall protect students from conditions harmful to health and safety.
"These teachers did the opposite, and in fact they inflicted conditions that were harmful to the health and safety of this student," said Katrina Plotz.
The group organized on Facebook. More than 1,200 have signed on in support of their effort. One by one, they spoke to board members about why they believe sensitivity training is not enough, and the teachers should be held accountable for their actions and fired.
The board has so far stood behind the teachers, claiming this is an isolated incident and both teachers have an excellent record with the district. Board chairman, Michael Sullivan said the board will consider all that was said at the meeting.
"There have been specific suggestions that I would hopefully will follow up on and pursue to see if they make sense in the context of this district," he said.
Merritt transferred to a school 25 miles away. He graduated this past May. He was given $25,000 from the district for what he went though. He said the money will never restore his reputation or the emotional distress he went through.
Merritt leaves for basic training in the United States Army next week.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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