Q: Please advise what behaviors of a teacher are considered abuse/misconduct that breach the law.
My sons teacher is intentionally shaming, humiliating and ostracizing him socially. She would not allow him to sit in a chair like the rest of the class and was forced to stand or sit on floor. Today she forced him to stand in hallway she refuses to give him class work and then punishes him for not doing his work, she forbids any of the other classmates to play with him at recess or even talk to him. This is a daily occurrence every day she does something extremely humiliating to him upon him entering the classroom. Is this illegal and can I file a complaint.
A:
Can you file a complaint? Absolutely? Is it illegal? Probably not. I'm assuming you've tried to resolve these issues with the teacher already. Your next step should be to the principal, and that communication should be along the lines of "I talked to the teacher of March 5th about my son having to sit on the floor. She says it's because of X, but agreed not to do it anymore. On March 8, my son reports he was again placed on the floor, which Teacher refuses to acknowledge. I don't think it's appropriate and would like your help to address it".
Keep going up the chain if you have to. But realize that as much as we love our children, there may be a reasonable explanation for what your son is saying. But you are otherwise well within your rights to question and demand answers. It just doesn't sound like something you need "the law" involved.
Kimberly Winslow agrees with this answer
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