| "They are only children and she was doing that in the girls locker room." |
| No one with a lick of sense would have put a teacher on administrative leave because of this report. But Chula Vista Elementary School District's Assistant Superintendents did. Richard Werlin stated under oath that the cabinet, including himself, Libia Gil and Lowell Billings, approved all Werlin's actions in this case. Board members Cheryl Cox, Pamela Smith, Larry Cunningham, Bertha Lopez and Patrick Judd backed him up, no matter how much money they had to spend on lawyers to hide his criminal wrongdoing. Werlin was aided in his wrongdoing by teachers, the district, and CTA. |
Her teacher helper Sandy was witness to this
conversation.
conversation.
S. O., my teacher helper, did not back up
Mr. Smith on this.
Mr. Smith on this.
| Report about Maura Larkins by Castle Park Elementary teacher "A. S." |
| [Note: This is the report that CVESD submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings to justify removing Maura Larkins from her classroom in 2001.] |
Maura's response:
I am amazed that an adult with normal
maturity and intelligence would document this
statement ("We need to be positive") in an
effort to get the speaker of that statement
fired.
It's amazing that Mr. S. believed that saying
"We need to be positive" was grounds for
firing a teacher. It's even more amazing that
Cheryl Cox, Pamela Smith, Bertha Lopez,
Patrick Judd and Larry Cunningham agreed
with him.
I worry that Mr. S. might not be in the right
occupation. I also worry that Cheryl Cox,
Pamela Smith, Bertha Lopez, Patrick Judd and
Larry Cunningham are also in positions
inappropriate to their abilities and/or
inclinations.
* * *
I am amazed that an adult with normal
maturity and intelligence would document this
statement ("We need to be positive") in an
effort to get the speaker of that statement
fired.
It's amazing that Mr. S. believed that saying
"We need to be positive" was grounds for
firing a teacher. It's even more amazing that
Cheryl Cox, Pamela Smith, Bertha Lopez,
Patrick Judd and Larry Cunningham agreed
with him.
I worry that Mr. S. might not be in the right
occupation. I also worry that Cheryl Cox,
Pamela Smith, Bertha Lopez, Patrick Judd and
Larry Cunningham are also in positions
inappropriate to their abilities and/or
inclinations.
* * *
4/19/01
Mrs. Larkins was late to swimming, even after
it had been discussed that the lunch staff had to
have us back as soon as possible. She was late
getting to the pool and I was asked where the
rest of the children were by staff at the site.
She was late getting back to lunch again and
does not want her children walking with mine?
This problem was discussed at the 3rd grade
team meeting/the principal and lunch staff
person and union representative were present.
She agreed to try to get the children back on
time. It was discussed ways to save time: no
snacks, playing, on the way back, and that the
children could leave their towels outside the
room on return to school to allow them to get
to the lunch room earlier.
Mrs. Larkins was late to swimming, even after
it had been discussed that the lunch staff had to
have us back as soon as possible. She was late
getting to the pool and I was asked where the
rest of the children were by staff at the site.
She was late getting back to lunch again and
does not want her children walking with mine?
This problem was discussed at the 3rd grade
team meeting/the principal and lunch staff
person and union representative were present.
She agreed to try to get the children back on
time. It was discussed ways to save time: no
snacks, playing, on the way back, and that the
children could leave their towels outside the
room on return to school to allow them to get
to the lunch room earlier.
She told me that I needed to pick up their
things and bring them outside--She told me,
"My children are not unmanageable, I replied
that I never said that!
things and bring them outside--She told me,
"My children are not unmanageable, I replied
that I never said that!
4/17/01
I ask Maura if she would mind telling the
children that they need to bring their things
outside the locker room during lesson so they
are not stolen.
I ask Maura if she would mind telling the
children that they need to bring their things
outside the locker room during lesson so they
are not stolen.
I asked her if it would be ok if I talked to her
children about this or would she like to do it
herself. Her reply was that she didn't know
which ones didn't bring out their things. Could I
go and get them. When I said I would check
them but they need to do it themselves she went
to one of my children's parents and asked them
to get the items. That I wouldn't.
children about this or would she like to do it
herself. Her reply was that she didn't know
which ones didn't bring out their things. Could I
go and get them. When I said I would check
them but they need to do it themselves she went
to one of my children's parents and asked them
to get the items. That I wouldn't.
This statement is either a result of Mr. S.'s
confusion, or an outright falsehood, or a
combination of the two. Mr. S. refused my
polite request for his help in safeguarding the
shoes and clothing of two boys who were
receiving swimming instruction. He believed
that my two third-grade boys had willfully
disregarded his general announcement that
clothes should be brought out to the pool
area.
Mr. S. became emotional when I said that my
Spanish-speaking students might not have
heard him or understood him, since they
would have no reason to intentionally leave
their clothes where they might get stolen.
It is a sad fact that, although anti-Mexican
prejudice was rare at the other three schools
in Chula Vista where I taught, it is rampant at
Castle Park Elementary.
I myself am not Mexican, but I was a
bilingual teacher, and at Castle Park,
bilingual teachers, as well as our students,
have been frequently targeted by other
teachers for harassment.
confusion, or an outright falsehood, or a
combination of the two. Mr. S. refused my
polite request for his help in safeguarding the
shoes and clothing of two boys who were
receiving swimming instruction. He believed
that my two third-grade boys had willfully
disregarded his general announcement that
clothes should be brought out to the pool
area.
Mr. S. became emotional when I said that my
Spanish-speaking students might not have
heard him or understood him, since they
would have no reason to intentionally leave
their clothes where they might get stolen.
It is a sad fact that, although anti-Mexican
prejudice was rare at the other three schools
in Chula Vista where I taught, it is rampant at
Castle Park Elementary.
I myself am not Mexican, but I was a
bilingual teacher, and at Castle Park,
bilingual teachers, as well as our students,
have been frequently targeted by other
teachers for harassment.
They are only children and she was doing
that in the girls locker room.
that in the girls locker room.
"Maura Documentation"
I told Mr. S that I believe children sometimes
need help. I said that I gave a lot of help to
his students in the girls' locker room when
they lost track of their belongings.
need help. I said that I gave a lot of help to
his students in the girls' locker room when
they lost track of their belongings.
Maura Larkins made this statement
("We need to be positive") after Mr.
S. exhibited some hostile behavior
toward children.
("We need to be positive") after Mr.
S. exhibited some hostile behavior
toward children.
This is true. I said I would be happy to
remind my students about this.
remind my students about this.
Her teacher helper Sandy was witness to this
conversation.
conversation.
4/16/01
"On the way to swimming-She [Maura
Larkins] told me, "We need to be positive."
All I said was that the children were not
listening to directions very well today."
* * *
"On the way to swimming-She [Maura
Larkins] told me, "We need to be positive."
All I said was that the children were not
listening to directions very well today."
* * *
It is a disgrace to the educational system in
San Diego that Mr. S.'s silly document was
actually produced by education lawyers as
proof that I should be dismissed.
It is a further disgrace that district lawyers
weren't laughed out of the Office of
Administrative Hearings.
I reluctantly respond to these odd allegations
in order to inform the public about what kind
of people control CTA, CVESD and other parts
of the educational establishment in California.
San Diego that Mr. S.'s silly document was
actually produced by education lawyers as
proof that I should be dismissed.
It is a further disgrace that district lawyers
weren't laughed out of the Office of
Administrative Hearings.
I reluctantly respond to these odd allegations
in order to inform the public about what kind
of people control CTA, CVESD and other parts
of the educational establishment in California.
In fact, about ten minutes after Mr. S. refused to
retrieve the belongings, a parent arrived and I asked
him if he would mind going into the boys'
locker room and bringing out the articles of
clothing that two of my boys had left behind.
He was happy to do so, and started to go, but
Mr. S., who was quite a distance away, came
hurrying forward to stop him.
I did not mention to the parent that Mr. S.
had refused to get the clothing. My guess is
that paranoia (and guilt) caused Mr. S. to
imagine that I had told the parent what had
happened.
retrieve the belongings, a parent arrived and I asked
him if he would mind going into the boys'
locker room and bringing out the articles of
clothing that two of my boys had left behind.
He was happy to do so, and started to go, but
Mr. S., who was quite a distance away, came
hurrying forward to stop him.
I did not mention to the parent that Mr. S.
had refused to get the clothing. My guess is
that paranoia (and guilt) caused Mr. S. to
imagine that I had told the parent what had
happened.
"She said, she thought it would be better if
we didn't bring the children to the pool
together. "It was to (sic) dangerous having
so many children walking together."
we didn't bring the children to the pool
together. "It was to (sic) dangerous having
so many children walking together."
| Tuesday, April 17, 2001 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| punctuation, spelling and syntax below are identical to those in the typewritten report prepared by A. S., including hyphens, dashes, and spelling.] |
This is true. Part of the reason I was late was
that I was trying to stay behind Mr. Smith to
avoid his hostile and aggressive behavior.
Earlier in the week, as our two classes
walked back to school together from the pool,
I stopped to take some weight off a child
whose backpack was too heavy. Mr. S., who
was behind my class with his children,
became angry at the delay, and, staring at me
the entire time, marched forward, right out
into the street, without looking for cars.
Fortunately, there were no cars, and none of
the children followed him into the street. Mr.
S. charged at me angrily on two additional
occasions. Because of this, I felt it was not
safe to walk with him.
I also believe safety is compromised when
too many children cross a street at one time.
There are often gaps in the line, and
impatient drivers sometimes try to drive
through the empty spaces between the
children.
that I was trying to stay behind Mr. Smith to
avoid his hostile and aggressive behavior.
Earlier in the week, as our two classes
walked back to school together from the pool,
I stopped to take some weight off a child
whose backpack was too heavy. Mr. S., who
was behind my class with his children,
became angry at the delay, and, staring at me
the entire time, marched forward, right out
into the street, without looking for cars.
Fortunately, there were no cars, and none of
the children followed him into the street. Mr.
S. charged at me angrily on two additional
occasions. Because of this, I felt it was not
safe to walk with him.
I also believe safety is compromised when
too many children cross a street at one time.
There are often gaps in the line, and
impatient drivers sometimes try to drive
through the empty spaces between the
children.
| Thursday, April 19, 2001 |
| Why didn't CVESD or Elizabeth Schulman want this letter to be entered into evidence in Maura Larkins' OAH hearing? |
| Below is a letter to principal Gretchen Donndelinger from Maura Larkins which CVESD did NOT submit to OAH. |
| "...Rick Werlin said he would guarantee my safety, but he apparently had no intention of doing so. "Al Smith charged toward me, and passed close by me, three times this past week..." |
| How intelligent and emotionally mature are teachers at Castle Park Elementary? Judge for yourself. A teacher who contributed to the downward spiral of Castle Park Elementary School, a descent that triggered the media frenzy surrounding the "Castle Park Five," gives us a look into the workings of his mind. |
| Blogs |
| Home Why This Website SDCOE CVESD Castle Park Elem Law Enforcement CTA CVE Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz Silence is Golden Schools and Violence Office Admin Hearings Larkins OAH Hearing |
| Apr. 2001 A. S. Report: |
| Maura Larkins' Response: |
| Doing what in the locker room? Something nasty? No. This bizarre sentence from Castle Park Elementary teacher A.S. may sound like a report of child abuse, but it is actually the report of a his extreme anger over the fact that two of Maura Larkins' 8-year-old male students had gone to their swimming lesson and left their clothes in the locker room. They were supposed to bring their clothes out to the deck of the swimming pool. I said to Mr. S., my fellow teacher, "They are only children" when Mr. S said that two boys had intentionally left their clothes in the locker room despite his announcement that they should take them outside. Mr. S wanted to deprive the two boys of their swimming lesson. I told Mr. S. that I was giving a lot of help to his students in the girls' locker room when they lost track of their belongings, and I believed that my two students were no more guilty of intentional wrongdoing than his students were. Who would ever guess that this is what Mr. S was trying to say? Shockingly, Mr. S has been assigned to teach writing to children in CVESD! |
| Monday, April 16, 2001 |