Update: 5th-grader says teacher poked him with pointer
5:12 PM Fri, Feb 13, 2009 | Permalink
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By Tatiana Piina and BURRILLVILLE -- A teacher has been charged with assault after a fifth-grade boy complained that she poked him in the chest with a pointer. Naomi Roberts, 65, of 151 Duck Cove Rd., North Kingstown, was charged with one count of simple assault. Her lawyer said today she would plead not guilty. The incident took place Jan. 9, according to police. The 10-year-old boy said Roberts poked him in the chest three times with the pointer because he was being loud in class, at Steere Farm Elementary School, according to Lt. Kevin San Antonio. The boy's father filed a complaint with police Jan. 15, San Antonio said. Burrillville Superintendent of Schools Steven Welford said that Roberts is on administrative paid leave pending the outcome of a school district investigation. Joel Chase, a lawyer representing Roberts, complained yesterday that although he had requested information about the case, officials had supplied information to the news media before releasing it to him. "It's unbelievable that the entire media have all the details of these allegations and we don't," he said. "The only thing we were told by the police when we brought her in and they arrested and processed her was that a student made the allegation that she assaulted him. I requested all the paperwork formally through a discovery motion. I have been told a couple of times that it's on its way. But the media apparently has a press release and affidavits before the defendant and her attorney have it. What's wrong with that picture?" When asked whether Roberts would plead not guilty at her arraignment, scheduled in Providence District Court on Tuesday, Chase replied, "Of course." 
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Every case is different but I suspect the kid is a class clown and the teacher is not going to survive this publicity and choose retirement for personal reasons.
Why work in a system and a society which coddles children. What is the big deal about being touched with a pointer? Did the kid have penetrating wounds or wounds at all.
The smart money is betting that the kid is the problem and the father hasn't ever disciplined him and we will hear from them again in the future via another law suit about some other ridiculous complaint.
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I agree.......the kid probably needed a smack in the head. When I was in school, if you got disciplined by a teacher, you'd go home and get disciplined by your parents as well. Then we wonder why these little snot nosed punks have such a sense of entitlement.
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If this kid was acting like this at home what would happen? Or maybe that is where he learned the behavior.
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Six days later this so-called parent files a complaint? While the teacher should not have touched the kid in this litigious society, she should have kicked the kid out of class.
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Bring back the days when you got what you had coming.
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To the teacher... don't depend on either the administration, it's legal counsel, or the dept of education to support you in any way. All three will do anything they can, legally, ILLEGALLY, or immorally to dismiss a teacher.
And remember... for opposing counsel, it's all about collecting legal fees, they don't care about you. I know. I'm still living this hell.
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The trouble maker 5th grade student should have been tossed out of school. But you must remember we live in a liberal loon society where no one respects anyone in authority, whether that be a teacher, coach, police officer.
Then, this kids parents will wonder why their little 'Johnie" is sitting in the ACI a few years down the line. Also, some people should not be allowed to become a parent- this case helps prove that point.
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Just another case of soomebody trying to get something for nothing. They should investigate the father. He probably doesn't even have a job.
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What is up with the Burrillville P.D. releasing the story to the press before the lawyer even got it? Don't they have some cow tippers to chase down? Little hungry for a spotlight out there in Burrillville Lt. San An? I Can't believe the have a 100 pound, 65 year old teacher in a mugshot like that. It's very sad. Lt. San Antonio probably Tivo'd himself.
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WoW!! Whatever happened to the 60's and 70's?? Society has become so uncontrolable, I can remember clearly teachers throwing an eraser at you of rapping your fingers with that damn pointer!! It was a way that you never dared go home and tell your parent!! Hell my dad would have kicked my butt!! It was a sure sign that you were a screw up in class!! BUT THEN AGAIN WE DIDN'T GO AROUND GANGBANGING EITHER!! Oh life goes on.
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When I was a student, my father always told me that he'd believe the teacher 99.9% of the time in any cases of discipline used against me. I have to admit I hated when I got slapped, poked, punished and abused by the Catholic nuns. I wouldn't admit it then, but later in life I admitted to myself that I deserved much of the discipline they gave to me. You know who needs a poke in the chest more than this 5th grade student? His father does.
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Maybe the kid was being a pain in the neck, but these days you don't look at some one cross eyed for fear of being sued. That old gal certainly should know that.
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It seems to me that the word "allegedly" has not appeared in this article. When did the newspapers drop the presumption of innocence. Even if the charges are proven true, what is the big deal? Teachers have been rendered impotent when it comes to the discipline of children in the schools. The kids know that they can get away with anything because Daddy will defend them. If the kids are acting up continuously in a way the interrupts the classroom, they should be kicked out. Too much of that behavior and they are kick out for good. Then we will see the tests scores start to rise again once we have "culled the heard."
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Maybe the father should but his boot in the kids back side. Then he might learn some respect. If not maybe Buba down at the state prison can help when little Bobby arrives.
Oh sorry i for got the state would then charge the father. Well I guess that leaves it up to good old Buba.
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When I was a kid we got paddled by the teachers and also rapped on the knuckles with the ruler (or pointer!) Maybe that was wrong, but in those days kids respected authority, and were taught respect for all our elders.
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Give the teacher some credit-she probably wanted to shish kebab the little twerp. Give her points for restraint. Make the father repeat parenting class (oops-he never took it). Ban the cop from Dunkin Donuts for a month for spilling the story to the press.
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