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Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
An old school prank gets honor student in trouble
14-year old Etan Mirenberg is an honor student involved in lacrosse and football.
He finds himself in trouble, having been suspended from Lynbrook High School in Long Island.
What did he do to get a suspension of 10 months?
Did he bring a gun to school?
Did he beat up another student?
Was he found with dope?
None of the above.
He gave his Spanish teacher, Sharon Cantante, a noogie.
Grabbed her forcefully by the neck, put her in a headlock and dug his knuckles into her scalp.
The teacher cried out for him to stop.
He just kept it up, noogie after noogie.
At least, that’s what the school says.
The boy says he gave her a “pat on the head.”
His attorney, yes, attorney (That’s what parents of kids in trouble do nowadays, right? They run out and lawyer up) claims the teacher actually likes to receive noogies and encourages “noogie behavior.”
I don’t think I ever saw Matlock argue that one.
Ethan is 5-foot-3 and 150 pounds. Cantante is 4-foot-11.
On the surface, this sounds a bit extreme: 10 months, an entire school year, for a noogie?
That’s if you believe the student and his parents who hired an attorney because their poor, sweet, innocent Ethan wouldn’t do anything wrong and is being railroaded.
There’s a larger issue at play here.
You’re 14 years old.
You’re a freshman, a freshman in high school.
Not only are you supposed to be afraid of your own shadow, but as an athlete, you’re supposed to set the example for other students.
But most importantly,
You are the student.
She is the teacher. You’re all of 14.YOU DO NOT GRAB AN ADULT AUTHORITY FIGURE BY THE NECK AND NOOGIE THAT PERSON, OR TOUCH HIM/HER IN ANY MANNER, SHAPE OR FORM…………EVER!
I’m sorry.
The “I only gave her a pat on the head” argument doesn’t hold much water with me.
She also told the boy to stop and he didn’t.
One can certainly argue that 10 months was excessive, but some punishment is necessary.
The “noogie” nature of this story can diminish its severity, but students must know that they can never, ever, ever, ever, ever lay their hands on a teacher.
Here’s the story.
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