Monmouth Elementry
Teacher: Mrs. Tonagel
Discrimination, Harrasment, lack of care in parent concernsand Verbal abuse
Teacher Complaint About: Monmouth Elementry - Mrs. Tonagel
Author: Tiffany Cerf
Grade: 1
Occur date: Oct 01 2011
Post date: Nov 04 2011, 03:27:17 AM
Teacher Complaint: Mrs. Tonagel - Monmouth Elementry
10/18/2011
To Monmouth Elementary and Central School District:
My son, Sebastien Cerf-Rule, is six years old and attends Mrs. Tonagal’s first grade class at Monmouth Elementary. I would like to begin by stating that I have been actively involved in his education and the current issues at hand. I have made several complaints and had many conversations with Mrs. Tonagel and the principal of the Monmouth Elementary regarding my concerns for Sebastien’s safety, emotional well-being and education. The attempts I have made to resolve these incidents have not been effectively dealt with and I feel have created an unsafe and unfriendly learning environment for my son.
My first concern is with his teacher Mrs. Tonagel. She has constantly reprimanded my son, called him names such as “slow”, and made Sebastien confused and irritable because of her choice in words and demands of him to be finished sooner like the other kids. When he is in class, he is stressed due to the pressure she puts on him instead of teaching him to retain, comprehend and understand his work. She has stood over him during class countless times, day after day, watching and waiting for him to finish his task. This has been making Sebastien nervous and unable to concentrate while working. She has told me over the phone that my son is not only slow but that he should be embarrassed because he always finishes last compared his peers. Sebastian’s in-class work has been sent home with rude remarks written on it such as “Finish Your Work” She has also voiced things to my son in a very rude manner, which has been witnessed by my daycare provider and by me. She has said to me in front of Sebastien that he is never on task and not capable of explaining or answering questions thoroughly.
When JR. (a child in Sebastien’s class) bullied him, Mrs. Tonagel did not document it. This child told my son three times he was going to pull out a knife and stab him in the face. I was there and witnessed Sebastien telling his teacher his concerns. When I addressed her about the situation her response was that it was unlikely regarding the other child involved. She did not treat it as a bullying or harassment incident, which it should have been considering the threat being made involved a lethal weapon.
In class they do group activities with Math and help each other with the work if needed. Sebastien has been told by Mrs. Tonegal when kids get up to help other students that he is not allowed to because “he was not good enough” She also tells my day care provider that Sebastien is always there to just play, or all he is concerned with is choice time. Again he just began 1st grade and learning to adjust to a new environment, people, sitting for the day and listening. And being at school all day unlike kindergarten when school was only 3-4 hours daily. Sebastien has expressed to me, as well as his daycare provider that he was “Scared” of his teacher because
On many occasions my son has came home crying, frustrated and confused as to why his teacher is mean to him, antagonizes him, calls him names and disrespects him. Far too many times she has made him fearful of getting his work done and because of this he feels incapable of doing it well or in a timely manner.
Mrs. Tonagel’s disrespectful treatment to Sebastien and the bullying of the child JR. in his class occurring on school grounds have not been addressed satisfactorily. These many issues are affecting his everyday life and education, in particular his sense of self-worth. As a parent this in an insult to injury and a disgrace to my child’s social and educational experience of what school is or at least supposed to be, and why it is necessary for him to attend.
Sebastien has loved to learn and attend school until recently when he began his first grade year at Monmouth Elementary. He is an extremely intellectual kid with brilliant communication skills who loved going to school. Recently his self esteem and determination to learn and/or attend school has lessened due to the extremity of which he fears it. I feel this is due directly to the treatment he has received from his teacher Mrs. Tonagel, and a fellow student in his class who has bullied him multiple times. These occurrences have been reported to the teacher, principal and superintendent multiple times yet between all three of them still nothing has been done regarding either incident. This is completely unacceptable due to the fact the acts which have occurred are illegal and mandated to be reported, besides the obvious moral obligation that has not been met to ensure my son’s safety.
These two unresolved incidents have and continue to disrupt my son’s education and his opportunity to learn. This has caused him to miss many days at school, be late for class and the lessons taught prior to his arrival as well as affected his emotional well being before and after school. This in turn reflects onto my family’s emotional, mental, physical and financial stability quite substantially. Such actions committed by a teacher or a student who attends a public or private school are inexcusable and unacceptable and should be a priority for administration to find an appropriate resolution for all parties, one that does not infringe on anyone’s civil rights.
When these issues are not addressed or taken seriously it is not only a violation of Oregon State Laws, it is also irrefutably unacceptable to me as his mother and advocate, and as a student, citizen, and active member of this community. It has made getting Sebastien to “want” to attend school a constant struggle, and has confused him in how to address problems and communicate, as well as caused him to lose the motivation to learn.
Sebastien is entitled to an equal opportunity to receive an excellent education which I feel is being denied, sadly, before it has even begun. His education is highly at risk, but his self worth and safety due to these circumstances is also in jeopardy. I demand these issues to be addressed immediately, and effectively, and in a reasonable amount of time so my son’s education does not continue to be effected negatively, which may potentially leave him behind his peers.
My first demand is that my son be transferred from Monmouth Elementary to Ash Creek Elementary immediately, as well as referred to the T.A.G program for intellectually gifted children. After much thought and research I find this is the best solution for Sebastien’s individual needs. The reason for this is that I do not want the aftermath of this issue to be reflected onto my son or his education, and I see it being as such if he stays in your school.
Secondly, I would appreciate it if Mrs. Tonegal would take accountability for her actions and the words she expressed to my son and possibly other students. Watching my son go through these harsh emotions and confusion has been painful and disappointing for me, and as stated previously has also taken a toll on my family. I will not accept this as a foundation for the beginning of his academic journey.
I believe a written document of the account (along with this letter) regarding Sebastien should be permanently placed in her academic teaching record to ensure this does not happen again. I also feel that some sort of training or re-training needs to occur for Mrs. Tonegal to be able to better assist and interact with her students while she is teaching.
Finally, I would like to be made aware in the near future as to how these issues of bullying and student / teacher conflicts are being resolved in a rapid and efficient manner which benefits all parties, so that current and future students can feel safe, accepted, respected, and be allowed to excel in their academic journey.
With concern and sincerity,
Tiffany E. Cerf
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