Principal resigns, school apologizes for suspending 9-year-old over comment : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

GASTONIA (AP) — The principal of a Gaston County school where a 9-year-old boy was suspended for sexual harassment submitted his resignation Tuesday, saying he wasn't given a chance to apologize.

Jerry Bostic told The Gaston Gazette he could understand being written up for the suspension and having someone follow up during the school year, but he added that he was disappointed because this is how his 44 years in education ended.

"To me it's a really sad final note to a career that I have found very satisfying and enjoy working with kids," Bostic said. "I really don't believe I was treated fairly."

School officials offered an apology to the boy and his mother after the boy was accused of calling a teacher "cute." A statement from the system said it was determined that the fourth grader at Brookside Elementary School didn't engage in sexual harassment. The school system said the suspension won't count against the student, and there will be additional instructional assistance provided to the student for the classroom time missed

Gaston County Schools Superintendent Reeves McGlohon would only say that Bostic submitted his resignation. McGlohon had no further comment.

"He (McGlohon) told me he had made the decision he was going to terminate me or drop me into an assistant principal position," Bostic said. "I admit I made some errors in what I did, but to fire me or to demote me with 44 years in it, it just doesn't make sense. To me he was a very heartless man, and he did it because of politics.".

wcarter2

December 7, 2011 - 7:02 am EST

This guy should have thought about the consequences before he made the bone headed decision to suspend the student. This was the most silliest thing I have heard of in a long time. He made his school and the district and the state of NC look like a bunch of idiots. He should have aplogized to the student and family the next day.

Sawdust

December 7, 2011 - 2:47 pm EST

I don't think it is any sillier than the 7 year old who was being choked by a bigger kid. He kneed the guy in the 'nads, and they charged him with sexual harassment, too. In my book, they should have given him some kind of award.

December 7, 2011 - 2:50 pm EST

Nope, didn't make it up: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/05/mark-curran-7-year-old-un_n_113...

kenpofan

December 7, 2011 - 7:17 am EST

After 44 yrs , he should have had better sense .
9yr old boy, ! Good riddance to him hope he takes a few more with him.

1234

December 7, 2011 - 8:06 am EST

I bet the superintendent had his hand in this action too! Ask for all the emails from the Principal and see where it leads us!

Mick

December 7, 2011 - 7:21 am EST

The punishment does seem harsh. Hmmmm sounds familiar. Shoe is on the other foot. Kudos to the family for fighting! The principal had plenty of time to apologize. "Not given a chance"... harrrumpph.

It must be noted the principal was given a chance to take a demotion but ELECTED to resign.

Andrewb

December 7, 2011 - 7:40 am EST

This situation has so much stupidity involved, coming from both sides. They all need to be slapped in the head with some common sense.

Interested

December 7, 2011 - 7:49 am EST

"I really don't believe I was treated fairly." Well if that just doesn't say it all!

I'm sure the 9-year-old boy and his family feel the same way. The news coverage on this story reads as if the principal listened to the faculty member and did no investigation of his own (speak to the child, speak to the children the child was talking to) before coming to a conclusion about what probably happened. Perhaps he had already made up his mind based on prior issues rather than looking for the facts of this particular situation? Maybe there's a lesson for 99% of us here.

arnie

December 7, 2011 - 9:36 am EST

I just want to see the teacher!

angry man

December 7, 2011 - 10:17 am EST

What was more heartless? You suspending a 9 yr old for Sexual harrassment... Or you being reprimanded for a stupid and callous decison. Apparently it is time for you to retire after 44 yrs you seem to be out of touch with reality. Man please, who is gonna feel sorry for you. The child is the one that was mis-treated. You obvioulsy have some other blemishes on your record for your superiors to hand down their decision as it relates to your decision making and abilty to have sound judgement. I hope the family sues the school for your stupidity. What were you thinking?!!!!! In todays social climate you should have known this would create a fire storm and you would be in the eye of the storm. You pushed the button one too many times and now you want someone to feel sorry for you.... Take the retirement and relax. Your time is over and the school system and students are better off with your dismissal!

whyus

December 7, 2011 - 10:19 am EST

44 years. Career government employee. Should have retired long ago. Probably did nothing in his last 30.

Alberto

December 7, 2011 - 12:10 pm EST

he was an elementary school principal, not hiding behind some desk in an office.

laserguidedloogie

December 7, 2011 - 1:07 pm EST

The larger lesson here is that this is what happens when you turn anything over to the government.

You get a lot of bureaucrats with lots of power and little common sense. Even though they may be honest and decent, their power and willingness to follow any regulation right over the cliff makes them unsuitable for running anything beyond a hotdog stand.

Individual liberty, freedom, small, limited and widely distributed power is the only way to run a society.

-Ken
http://www.LaserGuidedLoogie.com

swamper

December 7, 2011 - 2:46 pm EST

Maybe there are some things we dont know about but it looks as though some Berkley {Calif} like thinking has invaded the South. Thank goodness for the way things turned out. I wonder where this principal originally came from.

Theo

December 7, 2011 - 10:32 pm EST

I'm going to go out on a limb...I think this kid has been in trouble before and this was probably a reaction to the kids many previous infractions.

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