Education

Okla. High School Student Catches Teacher Napping…Guess Who Was Suspended?

Students can be punished for sleeping in class, but what happens when a teacher gets caught dozing at his desk?  A high school student in Oklahoma City got the answer to that question when he snapped a cell phone picture to prove that his substitute teacher was sleeping on the job.

The first reaction from the school? Suspend the student.

The Oklahoma City School District has a strict policy that prohibits students from using “telecommunications devices during the school day.”  Apparently, the school is sticking to the letter of the law in this situation.

The identities of the ninth grader at Mustang Mid-High or the slumbering substitute have not been released, but the story has filtered out and the community is responding. Many locals have expressed concerns over the harsh penalty imposed by the school, and some parents wondered if the suspension was appropriate — or a case of the administration trying to intimidate students.

The only official statement from the school district claims that the sleeping teacher will be investigated.

ABC-13 covered the story:

You have to wonder, if the same teacher had a heart attack and a student called 911 with a cell phone, would that student be suspended or lauded for acting quickly?

H/T – Simon Conway of WHO Radio in Iowa.

Comments (109)

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  • shirtsbyeric
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:57pm

    The student should form a union and make outrageous demands…it’s the American way.

    Report Post »  
    • mattfrompa
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 4:54pm

      now thats thinking outside the box :)
      student unions, can the parents join in?

      Report Post » mattfrompa  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on January 29, 2012 at 9:19am

      They already exist. Check out freechild.org and some of their links to youngerworld.org. They are sites dedicated to youth activism and agism (against children), you know…’cause it’s just not fair having to be a kid and all.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
  • christianUSA
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:56pm

    Opinion: the student committed the ultimate offences in public schools: 1 getting picture proof public school teachers do not teach 2 expressing desire to be taught 3 thinking the PRINCipal cares or be reasonable fair 4 well he had to suspend him otherwise the other kids would beat him to a pulp for telling. Is it not interesting that all public govmn, schools, courts, cops, etc make it illegal to video them doing wrong but they demand to and contrary to Constitution video US little normal citizens while we are doing nothing wrong?! Why to control US like prisoners!

    Report Post »  
  • ooskerDoo
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:52pm

    Whatever happened to putting whipped or shaving cream on their hand and just walking away? That way the sub knows that everybody knows, and can’t get mad or round up students because he has to admit he was snoozing. No pictures need to be taken, but a lot of great memories… Do they consider a can of whipped cream a weapon is school now-a-days?

    Report Post » ooskerDoo  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:46pm

      My daughter was scolded when she pulled a cough drop out of her purse and another student was let off the hook for having a can of Skoal in his back pocket…Go figure????

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • KathleenElsie
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:54pm

      I believe all aerosol cans are banned from schools because you can get HIGH from the propellent used.

      Report Post »  
  • younowknow
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:44pm

    Yes the student should have been Suspend.

    Something prohibited it just that. Not permissible.

    Witness would have done a better job than a camera.

    Witnesses were not an option to the apprentice because he was the only one not realizing that the situation was not warranted.

    No one is perfect; offering a little gesture to the teacher may have solved the incidence.

    So yes – suspend the brat and have him consider his guilt of bring a prohibited item to school.

    Report Post » younowknow  
    • The_Jerk
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:54pm

      Hit the fly with the hammer. Schools are way out of control. They’ve morphed into social engineers and actually do very little teaching.

      Report Post »  
    • 000degrees
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:55pm

      Why do people still send their kids to public schools????

      Report Post »  
    • RightThinking1
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:36pm

      @YouKnow
      Not to be argumentative, but the basis for the student’s expulsion is that the USE of TELECOMMUNICATION equipment is forbidden, not possession. That the camera is/was embedded in a cell phone does not mean that a piece of telecommunication equipment was used, i.e., there was no telecommunication conducted, thus it is nonsensical to say that the student was in violation of that rule. To be specific, the action was materially no different IN ANY WAY than if an ordinary camera had been used, or for that matter a camera embedded in a laptop. The rule seems quite clearly intended to restrict the use of cell phone communications in school. To interpret it differently is disingenuous rationalization, which is exactly what the officials are doing.
      To put things in perspective, what if the student had used his phone to prop up a book he was reading? What if he had used it to prop up a keyboard, or scrape gum off of the bottom of his shoe? Do think he would have been suspended, or that it would be rational to suspend him?

      Report Post »  
    • Mtroom
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:59pm

      It does not say cell phones are prohibited…Where?…Wait lemme read it again..Nope, not in there…But, I bet he sent the photo to all his friends…That, I bet, is why he was booted.

      Report Post » Mtroom  
    • TxSon
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 3:23pm

      @rightthinking. It is refreshing to see someone apply logic to a situation for a change. I’m not alone the woods after all. Sweet!

      Report Post » TxSon  
    • ddg7
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 4:03pm

      @RIGHTTHINKING & @TXSON….I hope you have room for me in the woods. Logically thinking people who are not afraid to speak up. Thank you Lord!

      Report Post »  
    • rienheart
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 4:23pm

      Yes, Suspend all the little tykes from Government run Schools. It will actually be beneficial to all concerned. People might actually get Educated.

      Report Post »  
    • ramburner
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 6:54pm

      @Rightthinking1; I agree with you. You have demonstrated sound logic and the school should be reprimanded for suspending the student and this logic should be shoved down their throat! Another comment suggested what would happen if a student witnessed a heart attack; should they not make the 911 call because of fear of being suspended? Schools are for learning, not sleeping! If the students can get suspension for sleeping, the same punishment should go for the teachers.

      Report Post »  
    • David in OKC
      Posted on January 29, 2012 at 1:08am

      @YOUKNOWNOW “Witness would have done a better job than a camera”
      .
      Ihave to disagree. I‘ve had 5 children attend the OKC public schools and I can tell you from experience that it wouldn’t have mattered if the entire class went into the principles office and presented themselves as witness’s. The school officials would have just rallied around the teacher in a show of mass support.
      I had a similar experience with my oldest daughter and one of her pervert teachers that was constantly making comments about my daughters breast size and underware. Even though my daughter and myself complained along with several other students from her class who presented themselves as witness’s, the principle still supported the teacher and did her best to turn it all around and somehow make it all my daughters fault.
      It wasn’t until years later when his perverted behaviour caught up with him and it all went public did he finaly get fired. (Which translates into “retired”) This was years after my daughter was out of school.
      The teachers unions have gotten way too big and powerful now so school officials feel that they can do whatever they want. And they do because most people just go along with everything they say and have little to no recorse at all to fight it if they happen to disagree. If you don’t believe me then try googling “Students rights in the school system”. I did and found almost nothing. Then I googled“Teachers rights in the school system” and found thousands of li

      Report Post » David in OKC  
    • Old_Bones
      Posted on January 29, 2012 at 1:21am

      did you read the story about low IQ? Just windering.

      Report Post » Old_Bones  
    • burtontd76
      Posted on January 29, 2012 at 6:53pm

      @rightthinking1

      spot on!

      Report Post »  
  • kevindean3
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:38pm

    There are few things to point out:
    - in general, subs are not teachers…
    - the student violated the schools policy, so they need to be disciplined
    - the sub is an idiot and will not likely be called back…
    - this isn’t an issue for the unions and no, as a teacher, I am not a member of the union, couldn’t pay me to join…

    Report Post » kevindean3  
    • WeekendAtBernankes
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:52pm

      Umm…. Most subs are retired teachers or teachers with family responsibilities/life conditions that prohibit them from teaching full time. They very, very rarely let people without education degrees teach. Union thing.

      Report Post » WeekendAtBernankes  
    • smokeyridgerunner
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:48pm

      No you are just stupid!

      Report Post »  
    • chfields62
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:57pm

      No your just a moron……covering for your incompetence and stupidity, no different than the dirty cops. It’s moron teachers like you that give teaching a bad name……The student should be applauded for bringing this to light, not punished. This is what started happening in the ‘30’s……

      Report Post »  
    • kevindean3
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 3:57pm

      Umm…. Most subs are retired teachers or teachers with family responsibilities/life conditions that prohibit them from teaching full time. They very, very rarely let people without education degrees teach. Union thing.

      I can’t speak for other school districts, but our subs are usually not retired teachers. Most of our subs do not even have college degrees. They must have a high school degree but do not have to have a college degree.

      Name calling… Union Thug… no… not even a union member.

      Report Post » kevindean3  
    • kevindean3
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 4:00pm

      chfields62
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:57pm

      No your just a moron……covering for your incompetence and stupidity, no different than the dirty cops. It’s moron teachers like you that give teaching a bad name……The student should be applauded for bringing this to light, not punished. This is what started happening in the ‘30’s……

      You don’t know me, so I doubt you can judge me as a person or as a teacher. Second, the person sleeping was a sub… not a teacher. From my experience, there is a lot of difference. Play nice and knock off the name calling.

      Report Post » kevindean3  
  • EQUALBALANCE
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:37pm

    Check out the Bible……”When right is wrong and wrong is right, know that the end is near”.
    Look it up…….

    Report Post »  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 3:22pm

      Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • USAF2003
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:36pm

    I don’t need to say anything more than…UNBELIEVABLE!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Ducky 1
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:33pm

    Next time use just a regular camera……..oh they will probably make that illegal too???

    Report Post » Ducky 1  
  • avgconservative
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:32pm

    The problem with making overreaching rules, for every class of people, and every situation, is the rules/laws have unintended consequences/effects. Here’s one. Just like the no tolerance of guns… can’t even close a fist and leave out the index and thumb without school suspension. Any time you see a “no tolerance” policy, you can be assured some liberal knucklehead demanded it.

    http://FlipTheLib.com

    Report Post » avgconservative  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:26pm

    K-12 to high school, to college, to the classroom. Teachers are the cave people who never leave the cave. They are teaching our children how to live outside of the cave. It‘s no wonder that they’re so detached from reality.

    Report Post »  
    • WeekendAtBernankes
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:45pm

      Not all of them. Not even most of them. But enough of them.

      Most of the teachers in the first standard deviation possess intelligence and skill within the first standard deviation. That is to say, pretty average folks, for better or for worse.

      Report Post » WeekendAtBernankes  
    • The_Jerk
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:52pm

      Most of them, and their administrators.

      Report Post »  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:25pm

    Big Brother for me and you…Not forthe Unions and Government officials…You cannot spy on Uncle Sam and his Minions….

    Return to the Constitution to end the BS
    Ron Paul 2012

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 2:36pm

      You had me nodding my head UNTIL you whipped out the Rob Paul plug. I don’t get why people are so hot for R.P. He is good on the Fed and restricting the Fed Govt ‘s power. After that he is a nutbag no better than Woodrow Wilson, FDR or Obama.

      Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:13pm

    Aw jeez, can we fire these administrators for idiocy and lack of common sense.

    If if were my son who got suspended, you better believe I would be marching in the administrators office so fast his/her head would spin. I would send my son to school anyway; I would defy the suspension. What are they going to do arrest him? If they did this; expect a call from my lawyer. If they called me to come pick him up, I’d say NO, but hell NO. My taxes pay for him to be in school and since I can’t withhold the cost from property taxes, he will be at school. If you deny him entry into class, then expect a call from my lawyer.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • JusticeLeague
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:12pm

    I happen to be a teacher in a state that has no union. The largest city does have a union, but the rest of the state doesn’t. What we have is an association that is part of NEA and we have a choice to join. I do not belong to this association. I do belong to a liability insurance association for teachers that provides me legal protection if I need. This organization does no lobbying. With that said, this student should have been thanked for doing this. Also, in fairness to blame the unions is a bit too much in this situation. Unless Oklahoma is different, in my state a substitute teacher can not join the city union or the association.

    Report Post »  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:22pm

      JusticeLeague

      My wife taught for 35 years and never joined the union we paid for insurance out of our pocket to protect her and our family.
      Where we live union members do sub.

      Report Post »  
  • Rowgue
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:08pm

    This is only a story if they don’t take any action against the teacher.

    They have clear rules about having and using cell phones and such in this school, and the student was well aware of those rules. What he used it for is irrelevant.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:16pm

      In the old days… we put Tacks upon their Chairs… to keep them awake!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • COFemale
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:18pm

      So if the teacher was having a heart attack then calling 911 is out of the question? It is people like you who can’t distinguish between relevant use and personal use, with no sense of common sense, that we are in a situation where critical thinking is lacking. One rule does not fit all; every rule has to be judged on a case by case basis.

      Don’t be part of the problem, be a part of the solution.

      If this kid was fooling around and taking pictures in class with the phone during a lesson, then I would agree with his suspension.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • chips1
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:39pm

      The teacher was being paid to teach. The fact that the teacher was sleeping, the student caught a crime being commited. Theft of money from the school for falsely accepting money for work not being performed. The teacher should be convicted and the proper punishment administered.

      Report Post »  
    • JayCee
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 1:15pm

      District substitutes are at-will employees and can be removed from the support personnel roster if a recommendation is made to the school board.

      Read more: http://newsok.com/photo-of-sleeping-mustang-substitute-teacher-investigated/article/3643183#ixzz1km5qK3mU

      Report Post »  
    • Preemptive-Strike
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 2:08pm

      I’m sorry Officer, I would have jumped over the fence and saved the little kid from drowning, but there was a “no trespassing” sign.

      Every other section of public service has laws to protect “whistle blowers”. It’s amazing how many of you think the kid should be punished. I‘m willing to bet most of these idiots have slept on the job too. Protect your own!

      Report Post »  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 4:19pm

      Oh get off the BS train.

      The kid didn’t take this video as a public service. He didn‘t take the video and immediately proceed to the principal’s office to expose a teacher not doing his job. What he did was post it on youtube to ridicule him.

      If the teacher had had a heart attack rather than been sleeping he would have still posted the video on youtube, because he wasn’t interested in what was actually going on, only in how many hits he was going to get on youtube.

      Report Post »  
  • political-realist
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:08pm

    I‘m just wondering since the media isn’t disclosing.

    Is the Teacher perhaps Black or maybe Hispanic ?

    You know race matter nowadays !

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:07pm

    .
    Somebody needs to BitchSlap somebody…..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Justthefactsmam
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:01pm

    The Teacher was on an authorized Union Break, leave the poor teacher alone and this should serve notice for all those students to mind their own business…

    (tounge firmly planted in cheek)

    Report Post » Justthefactsmam  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:00pm

    This is exactly what happens in any union situation. If this had occurred in the private sector, the boss who found the employee napping would be called on to the carpet and reprimanded. You can thank spineless politicians and spineless corporate execs for bending over and letting these parasites have their way. Unions are a cancer that sucks the life blood out of the free markets.

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:27pm

      Spot on

      Report Post »  
    • sooner12
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:30pm

      I live about 20 minutes from this school. As a former sub-teacher, one must not be a union member. Oklahoma is a right-to-work state. I wasn’t in a union. As for the teacher he shouldn’t be used as a sub again. As for the student he made a mistake, but the punishment does not fit the crime.

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:36pm

      Now I wonder why any job that can leave this country has, Hummmmmm.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • TreeTrimmerJim
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 2:36pm

      We tend to get the kind of representation we vote for or hire. Those elected or hire reflect on those voting or hiring.

      Parents are solely responsible for the education of their offsprings. Its natures way of insure survival. The administration of this school and the teachers within are representing the parents. Is the response of the administration and teachers indicative of the parents in this community?

      If not its the parents responsibility to make their wishes known and demand appropriate response by those elected or hired when interacting with their children. If compliance is not forth coming replace the representatives who do not reflect the desires of the parents, immediately.

      Report Post » TreeTrimmerJim  
  • brother_ed
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:59am

    My daughters are allowed to use cell phones in school between classes.

    It comes in handy if they forgot a book or someone stole their lunch, they can call/text me and bring it to them.

    We need to teach our children how to be responsible, not to control them. Cell phones during class are not appropriate, but between classes, why not?

    When the left says they want to teach, they mean control.

    Report Post » brother_ed  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:03pm

      I totally agree .. and it can be a safety issue also …. what if some crazy person goes off. Turn them off during class but don’t take them away.

      Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:58am

    Let me guess …. the one without a UNION!

    Report Post »  
  • Marine Recon Dad
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:57am

    Typical ‘shoot the messenger’ mentality.

    My son, when in 3rd grade, would come home with torn clothing, a gift from a 6th grade bully. When I asked my son why he didn’t report it, his response was ‘he would be benched with the bully’. After storming into the Principle’s office and demanding an answer, I was told by this Liberal Loon that she couldn’t just reprimand the bully – it would hurt his feelings!!!

    … two weeks later, my son was out of that school….
    …… I would have hurt his feelings, starting at the base of his skull – his A.$. $.

    Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:55am

    More proof that all class rooms must be video and sound recorded. These recordings should be open to the public so we can montior what goes on in these class rooms.

    Report Post »  
    • randy
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 12:35pm

      Amen!

      Report Post » randy  
    • Preemptive-Strike
      Posted on January 28, 2012 at 2:12pm

      That makes too much sense!

      Report Post »  
    • Cleigh
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:33am

      Good idea. Install video cameras and audio. Hallelujah! Parents can then monitor not only the teachers, but the students as well. Sure, there are a few lazy teachers and substitutes, but there are an awful lot of “lazy” students. I’m sure this strategy would help the students do the right thing…not sleep in class, pay attention, be respectful…etc. Unless… the students aren’t held accountable at home for their actions at school, for instance if they break the rules by pulling out their cell phones and begin texting during class in order to help other students cheat on tests, just chat, or check facebook. They should not ask the substitute back and suspend the student. Schools need rules and students should follow the rules set forth in the handbooks they throw in the trash at the beginning of the year. Let’s hold everyone accountable…students, teachers and parents!

      Report Post »  
  • NeoKong
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:54am

    They are definitely punishing the kid.
    The last thing they want is the students catching them doing things they don’t want people to see.
    What if the student had snapped a picture of a teacher smoking on school property….?

    Report Post » NeoKong  
    • Cleigh
      Posted on May 27, 2012 at 8:40am

      How about the other way around. Let’s be adults and not naive. The students love to play tricks and do things with substitutes just to get out of doing work. Have any of you people ever been in a classroom and taught for an hour? I know there are a few teachers who commented. It’s so easy to cry, “Poor students. They should be able to whip their phones out anytime they want!” If they had the right motivation, they would’ve buzzed the office or grabbed the teacher next door to let them know the situation.

      Report Post »  
  • Arc
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:51am

    Even the substitute could be a union member as well as the school administrators!!! Major lawsuit if you fire the teacher so lets go with the politically INCORRECT approach to this. Fire all of them.

    Report Post » Arc  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:50am

    not surprised …………..schools hate when evidence is provided against the co-union worker

    backwards is forward, up is down

    Report Post » Psychosis  
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