The Minnesota Department of Human Rights investigated and found enough evidence to show that social studies teacher Diane Cleveland and law enforcement teacher Walter Filson had subjected a student to jokes and taunts and that the conduct was “egregious enough to compel the student to withdraw from the situation by transferring to another school.”
Ms. Cleveland singled him out on nearly a daily basis by making jokes, comments and innuendos about her perception of his sexual orientation. “His fence swings both ways”, “his boat floats in a different direction than the rest of the guys in the class.” And “Would you like to have [another allegedly gay student] go with you so he can sit in the stall next to you and stomp his foot?” were among Ms. Cleveland’s comments. Ms. Cleveland made her comments in front of other students and allowed them to laugh, and would share her comments with Mr. Filson.
When Cleveland learned that the student was doing a report on Ben Franklin for her class, she made comments in front of the class that implied that the student had a “thing for older men”.
When Cleveland’s class was watching the 1989 film, Christmas Vacation, Cleveland covered the screen during a swimming pool/bathing suit scene and commented, “It’s OK if [the student perceived to be gay] watches this because he isn’t into that sort of thing anyway… maybe if it was a guy.”
Law enforcement teacher Walter Filson would repeat, add his own jokes, and allow other students in the class to joke about the boy’s perceived sexual orientation. Filson said the boy should be in a fashion show because he enjoyed wearing women’s clothes.
When another student presented a report in Filson’s class regarding a deer that had been molested, a student said, “Hey, Mr. Filson, doesn’t that sound like something [the student perceived to be gay] would do?” Filson allegedly agreed and laughed.
After students came to Filson’s classroom seeking male participates for a fashion show, Filson stated, “Take [the student perceived to be gay] because he enjoys wearing woman’s clothes… he would love to be in the show.”
The Anoka Hennepin school district acknowledged that the minor had been subjected to regular comments, jokes and innuendo about his perceived sexual orientation, but maintained that the district had adequately responded to the situation. They also argued that the student’s decision to transfer to another school outside the district was voluntary.
The state’s investigation done by the Department of Human Rights showed that the school district ignored the student’s parent’s request that her son be removed from the teacher’s classrooms. The teachers were still permitted to continue bullying the two students, and many more from Anoka High School. The student was forced to transfer to a school 25 miles from home to escape the harassment.
Anoka-Hennepin School District agreed to pay the student’s family $25,000 although they deny that they violated the state’s Human Rights Act and said the settlement does not mean it acknowledges any wrongdoing. So basically, they’re saying it’s okay for teachers to bully students. The two teachers remain employed in the district. Read the legal report!
I totally believe it, I took Law Enforcement at STEP and both of those teachers are jerks. Mr. Filson is a stuck up douche who needs anger management. He hits kids over the head with rulers, kicks students, and throws stuff at them. I wish that asshole would’ve been fired.
PS: I’ve moved my blog to http://awebslife.tumblr.com.
