Teacher accused of taping student's mouth shut

[Lasher]

A criminal investigation is underway in Plaquemine involving a teacher accused of taping a kindergartner's mouth shut in class.

Iberville Elementary is a school where excellence is expected and success is the goal.

It's also a place kindergartner Imani Butler doesn't want to see again.

Imani's mother Tasha said Imani came home Monday and said her kindergarten teacher, Jill Daigle, taped her mouth shut with scotch tape to stop her from talking so much.

On Tuesday, Butler said she questioned Daigle about it and Daigle admitted to it.

"She says it's excessive talking," Butler said. "This is my child's first year of school. A child will be a child. A teacher has to have patience and that's something she didn't have."

The President of the Louisiana Association of Educators sides with the parent in this case. Carol Davis told WBRZ teachers are trained in college to use common sense when disciplining kids. Using scotch tape is not on the College of Education curriculum.

"I don't believe that would cross into the mind of any properly trained teacher," Davis said.

Daigle, who's a second year teacher, left school after Butler confronted her, and hasn't been back since. Iberville's Superintendent said the matter is under investigation, and police are investigating.

"If I did that to my child, I would be arrested," Butler said. "It would be child abuse. I would have been booked, no questions asked."

While Daigle gives answers to police and school board officials, Tasha prepares to send Imani back to school Thursday. Daigle isn't Imani's teacher anymore.

"If you would have patience, that's a virtue," Butler said. She would have been able to handle the situation much more appropriately than what she did."

Superintendent Charles Nujol said he will wrap up this investigation Thursday, and some sort of disciplinary action will be taken against Daigle. He's just not sure what that will be yet.

We weren't able to get in touch with Daigle. She doesn't have a listed number in Plaquemine.

Police said they too will have more Thursday on whether criminal charges will be filed against Daigle.


AP U.S. News

http://www.wbrz.com/stories/091802/new_kidtaped.shtml

[suzziq03]

If it was her it would of been abuse and she would of been in jail, why shouldnt the " teacher " suffer the same fate if not get more for doing so to someone else's child!
:eek: and why the heck would a school hire a "teacher" that doesnt have a phone number?? sounds like a weird situation from the start!
If I was this mother i would demand that she be taken to jail for no less than 6 months for not only abusing my child, but for emotional distress too on both me and my child, what in the world is going on these days!! my daughter just started kindergarten this year thank goodness she has the sweetest most understanding teacher in town! to think that this could go on in front of other students as well just really really ticks me off to no end! but she will prolly just get a slap on the wrist. I think we all need to write a little letter to the school that hired this "teacher" and demand a little justice for all the little ones!:mad:

[kelblend]

When I was in first grade, we had a teacher who did this all the time. That woman also pulled kids down thehall by the ears. Was anything done, ummm no. Course this was, let's see, 28 yrs ago and shoot she had done the same thing to my brother 6 years before that. Yes, that woman was a witch.

It didn't kill me and no the tape wasn't ripped off! I remember getting put in the corner in kdg. for talking too much lol. This day and age, I can see where the teacher should have known better. I have to say though that I agree somewhat with FBH. I'm gonna quit talking now as I will soon get into trouble.

[ckerr4]

I do partly agree with FBH. Teachers are restricted from a lot of discipline today, and the kids know it for the most part. But I'm not sure that physical discipline would be more effective. I honestly don't know. However, even if the teacher were really frustrated, she should have known better. Even if she thought she was right, she should have known that nobody else would agree with her and that her job would be in jeopardy if she used the tape. That's common sense.

And I think that the newspaper was not able to contact her - I'm sure that the school has a way to get a hold of her, unless she does not have a phone at all.

[menanamama]

fisher...just because it used to be legal...doesn't mean it was less abusive then. no one else has the right to enforce discipline on my child that has a physical nature. make them sit in a corner sure but you physicaly punish my child ever (saop in the mouth, paddling, or taping their mouth shut or whatever else you may choose to do), then you are abusing them. you are not their parent and have no right what so ever to inflict any physical punishment or damage on my child under any circumstances. to enforce physical discipline of such a nature is not anyones right but my own or their fathers. it used to be legal to beat you wife....does that make it right now...heck no. i see your point about their hands being tied but they do not need to enforce physical punishments ever and i will always be against it. make no mistake...if my child deserves a spanking...she will get one but talking out does not qualify as necessary of physical punishment in my mind. soap in the mouth...i don't do that because they could asperate it into their lungs and it could cause suffocation...i have been known to slap her mouth when she called me a *itch though...something my sd tought her................boy was i not happy. her new thing is shut up...unfortunatly she got that one from daddy.......grrr.