Julio Artuz's Teacher Faces Sanction For Alleged Verbal Abuse Of Special Needs Student

DEPTFORD, N.J. -- A New Jersey teacher faces discipline after being recorded telling a special-needs student that he was a "tard" and responding sarcastically to the student's pleas not to be called "special."

The Gloucester County Special Services District board reviewed the student's accusations of harassment, intimidation and bullying and placed the teacher on paid administrative leave Wednesday, Superintendent Michael Dicken said. He would not say what discipline the instructor could face.

The parents told ABCNews.com, which was first to report the case, that their 15-year-old son had been bullied before by the teacher. They urged him to use his cellphone to record video if the instructor did it again.

The district didn't identify the teacher. The man identified by the family as the teacher at the Bankbridge Regional School didn't respond to an email seeking comment, and the district would not provide a home phone number for him.

The student has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and emotional issues, his parents said.

The video shows him repeatedly asking the teacher to stop calling him "special."

"What does the title on the front of that school say? `Special education,'" the teacher says in one instance.

In another instance, the teacher uses a pejorative derived from word retarded, telling the student: "Tard, you want me to call you normal, and you don't even know what it is."

At one point the teacher can also be heard threatening to beat up the student "from here to kingdom come."

The superintendent said, "The actions depicted on the video do not reflect the mission or culture of our school."

Watch Julio Artuz's footage:

View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com.

Comments

[Halana Richardson]

09:38 PM on 11/29/2011

Ms. Z. Mingo, at Thurgood Marshal Middle School, in Harlem, NY, I took her out of the "F" school and I have not had a problem since. And the sad case was, that the principal backed the teacher. They both never apologized, to my daughter. I wrote a letter to all official, I told all the parents and I left the school which is probably going to claoe because it is still received an "F" grade.

It did not effect my daughter, she has always been taught that some teachers are worst than some mothers, and not all can do their jobs. like most mothers. I was glad my daughter told me. I did not feel like having a conversation about my daughter to an old woman, who is probably jealous of youth, intelligence and beauty.

[Mr Anonymous]

11:10 PM on 11/22/2011

While what this teacher did was completely wrong there is a system set in place for these things. It is mainly set up to protect against more frivolous problems. While it is horrible it happened and the teacher was obviously wrong and should be terminated for this. The system still needs to work its way through.

[Jeremy Dale Turner]

03:30 PM on 11/21/2011

The only pay this bludgeon deserves is exposure for his malpractice. Show his face, give his name, and let the payments roll in.

[xs10shl]

02:52 PM on 11/21/2011

Paid administrative leave! He should be immediately FIRED. What he did is child abuse. How do we ever expect to teach our children that bullying is wrong and hateful when their teachers are not held accountable. Bravo Julio. I can only hope that many many people are telling you and showing you how much you are loved and valued as a human being.

[LISUPT]

01:56 PM on 11/21/2011

Out of the clasroom now ... and never to return. Work a deal, and get him to resign. It will be cheaper and quicker than going through a formal dismissal hearing. This is a disgrace and an embarassment to all educators.

[cmr86]

12:40 PM on 11/21/2011

A sanction? That's it?

The man should be removed from the classroom immediately.

[cadawa]

01:11 AM on 11/21/2011

Sanction? Exacty why should a person this twisted have access to special needs kids ever again?
Has the Wall Streeters 'do the crime but don't do the time' infected even public education?

[Kiranitisme]

09:25 PM on 11/20/2011

Paid administration leave? He should be in unemployment line!

[leyvadaniel]

07:58 PM on 11/20/2011

Sanctions as in getting fired and never abuse any more kids, or "sanctions" as in payed vacations in the form of "payed suspension"? that man is a danger to society.

[snickerdoodlecupcake]

04:55 PM on 11/20/2011

Absolutely disgraceful, this "teacher" should never be allowed to set foot in a classroom again.

[papapj]

03:37 PM on 11/20/2011

i no

[Nenad Pavic]

02:47 PM on 11/20/2011

Why his face is blurred?

[ian0000]

10:57 PM on 11/19/2011

can any one defend the union for defending this guy and trying to keep his job?

[Drew2U]

07:54 PM on 11/20/2011

The union isnt and will not be defending this teacher. The school put him on paid leave.

[juswondrin]

10:02 PM on 11/19/2011

Wow! "The Gloucester County Special Services District placed the teacher on paid administrative leave Wednesday, Superintendent Michael Dicken said."

Why, just think of that!! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Bet that teacher knows what's good for him now. Yessiree, Administrative Leave. Whooeee....that's awful!

NONSENSE!! That pitiful excuse for a teacher should never be allowed to enter a classroom again even as a school janitor. What other proof does this sad excuse for a school board need than this video?

Another pathetic example of our great American education program. God help us.

[aralpharetta]

07:33 PM on 11/19/2011

Where the HELL do they find these folks?

[Leto II]

01:25 AM on 11/20/2011

It's very difficult. This is a school for kids with behavioral problems. How many teachers WANT that job?

[brazenliberal]

08:43 PM on 11/24/2011

That doesn't justify letting someone like this into contact with children (any children), nor does it make "administrative leave" an acceptable response to such abuse.