When Chris Piland, a dad living in Pennsylvania, learned about the hurtful comment his son’s second-grade teacher wrote on his test, he was furious. Not only did the teacher try to bully his little boy, but they also humiliated him in front of his classmates, making him feel stupid. This behavior goes against what we expect from teachers who are dedicated to supporting students’ learning.
The teacher, Alyssa Rupp Bohenek, works at Valley View Elementary School. While she may enjoy receiving her regular paycheck, it’s clear that she has crossed a line by abusing her power over the children. Not only did Chris Piland discover that the teacher find his son’s abilities “absolutely pathetic,” but he also realized that she is failing to do her job properly.
In red pen, Bohenek wrote, “Absolutely pathetic he answered 13 in 3 min! Sad.” She even drew a frowny face. The assignment was meant to test the students’ subtraction skills within a three-minute timeframe, and unfortunately, Piland’s son was only able to complete thirteen problems, which was the lowest in the class.
Outraged by this incident, Chris Piland decided to take action. He uploaded a photo of the assignment online, calling out Bohenek for her hateful treatment of his son. Feeling that the teacher should face consequences for her actions, he started an online petition with the aim of getting her fired. His hope is to ensure that she cannot abuse her power over any other second-grade children.
In response to the public outrage, school superintendent Rose Minniti had to address the issue. She acknowledged being informed about the incident and has already scheduled a meeting with Bohenek to investigate the matter. The school administration will determine whether termination is the appropriate action to take based on the facts and evidence gathered.
While Bohenek has been working at Valley View Elementary School since 2013, her comment raises concerns about her mindset towards young children. It seems that she may be growing tired of her role as an educator, but that does not excuse her behavior. The question remains: what are your thoughts on the teacher’s red-pen remarks? Is this an acceptable way for a teacher to address a student’s work?
