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Two Pasco teachers resign over school scandal

District: Teachers asked students to name bad kids
Posted at 11:28 PM, Oct 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-13 01:47:58-04

Two teachers resigned over what the school district considers inappropriate classroom votes.

Pasco County Schools officials said last week two teachers asked roughly 40 students to write down the names of two peers, who are disruptive, and should be kicked out of their class.

"Why they thought it was appropriate to have the students choose who would leave, I have no clue. It's completely inappropriate," Linda Cobbe, Spokeswoman for Pasco County Schools said.

Cobbe said the teacher, who was the leader in this incident, did not see the problem with the assignment when she resigned. Cobbe said the second teacher questioned it, but still moved forward. She said that teacher was remorseful when she resigned.

According to Cobbe, the entire 3rd grade class at Gulf Highlands Elementary School is crowded and staff are planning to move some children to a new classroom. Cobbe said this was not how it should have been handled.

"First of all the teachers don't even have a say in that really. It's something the administrators decide, but certainly 3rd graders should not be asked to make that decision," Cobbe said.

Felicia Cummings turned to ABC Action News when her daughter tried to choke herself, last week, after she found out two students voted her out of their class.

"If it wasn't for you guys, I'd probably still be in the dark," Cummings said.

Cummings said she was upset about the incident and last night too when she found out a second teacher was involved in the situation. She said she did not find out from school staff either.

"Teachers, you're these kids role models. You are who we send our child(ten) to everyday and we just want you to treat them like we would at home," Cummings said.

Cummings' 8-year-old daughter said she did not write any names of students on her sheet of paper last week.

She said she wrote, "I think our class is just fine".

According to Cobbe, the two teachers, who resigned, are new to the school district. One teacher started in August. The second teacher started in September. Cobbe said new teachers are on probation during their first year.