MEMPHIS ACADEMY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Teacher: Mr. Curtis Weathers
Public Beatings Corporal Punishment
Teacher Complaint About: Memphis Academy Of Health Sciences - Mr. Curtis Weathers
Author: The Hitting Stops Here!
Grade: 6
Occur date: Jan 01 2005
Post date: Apr 11 2009, 06:46:19 PM
Teacher Complaint: Mr. Curtis Weathers - Memphis Academy Of Health Sciences
Girls are whipped on their hands with a leather strap wielded by Principal Curtis Weathers -- a 6' 6" former football player.
The girls to be whipped await their turn while the audience watches in anticipation. As he swings his belt, Mr. Weathers counts off 10 strokes. If the victim, out of fear or pain, retracts her hand, the count starts over again. If she cannot make it through ten strokes, she is suspended and must try again the following Friday. She is not allowed to resume classes until she successfully completes the hand-beating ritual. The psychological effects on a child undergoing such an experience -- or witnessing it -- can only be guessed, and the high risk to the delicate anatomy of the hand cannot be over-stated.
Girls are also beaten on their buttocks. When Ms. Biles, President of Middle School, does the honors, the paddle is her weapon of choice. The victim moves to the center of the floor, grasps the back of a chair and assumes a rump-presentation posture, whereupon Ms. Biles, delivers five swift blows to the buttocks.
It should be noted that the human buttock area is an erogenous zone, and research scientists have long recognized that abuse to that region can cause sexual confusion, low self-esteem and a host of other long-term issues. When done to a non-consenting adult, it constitutes sexual battery.
The paddling of boys, done by Mr. Weathers, has a few added features. He first looks down into the boy's pants to be sure he hasn't padded his seat with extra clothing. Anything that might cushion the blows is removed. Then, he typically grabs the waistband or belt of the boy's pants and jerks him into position for the paddling. This upward hoisting of the garment, causes child's genitals to be jambed against the body. This is a form of sexual bullying commonly referred to in youth culture jargon as a "wedgie." The effect of a "wedgie" on a male's genitals is similar to that of being grabbed. When the student is in position, Mr. Weathers whacks him repeatedly with the paddle. Mr. Weathers has two paddles which he has affectionately dubbed, "The Terminator" and "Mr. Wood."
Reasons for paddling are vague and varied. The most trivial breach of rules, such as getting out of one's seat to pick up a pencil, chewing gum, being a few seconds late to class, or taking too long in the restroom, can result in a paddling. One child told me that the way he knows that he is due for a Friday paddling is when he sees his name on the list, and that he often doesn't have the faintest idea why he is being punished. Some children's names appear on the list week after week. The assumption of guilt is automatic. No exceptions. If one's name is on the list, one gets it.
Reactions of the students viewing the spectacle range from pleasure to discomfort. This is the only time when outbursts of laughter and jeering are tolerated, if not encouraged. While some students are frankly entertained, others block their ears and stare at the floor.
Bathroom passes are not automatic, and evidently not based on reasonable, personal need. It is not uncommon for a student to struggle through much of the school day trying to reconcile the demands of bladder or bowel with the whims of teachers.
And there is a punishment room. It's a dreary, empty place where a student can be expected to sit for hours with nothing to do but stare at the bare wall.
The Physical Education class is run by a large, intimidating man. Like the Principal Weathers, he is a former athlete. He frequently yells at, humiliates and manhandles students. On at least one occasion when he took charge of a class of about 17 students, he began the session by physically punishing every one -- the paddle to the boys' buttocks, and the strap to the girls' hands. Their alleged misconduct? Talking. If an abused student begins to cry, he tells him to "man up," or "suck it up."
We have called the Memphis Police Dept. to find out if we can report a crime that I know of in Memphis even though I am from out of town. They informed me that it did not matter whether we was from out of town and that we could give my report. When I began telling my report, their response changed to, “We don't take reports by phone. we can't help you...we don't handle that...” leaving me with no viable option for having these children protected right away.
The children attending this school are not being protected by their parents, by the school, or by the local police.
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TomTeacher In Complaint
Feb 28 2011, 02:49:14 PM
Been there - Done ..... well, you know
If the girl wished to avoid it, either arm her with pepper spray or trasfer to another school.
bbTeacher In Complaint
Mar 21 2011, 01:51:36 PM
If a parent is caught doing any of these in public, anyone can report and have children services take children away. Principals and educators do not have a right to abuse a child and much less turn a blind eye to it. All the teachers are guilty as well!
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