Principal Resigns After Shaming Girl Falsely Accused Of Stealing

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ELIZABETH, Pa. -- An elementary school principal resigned after parents denounced her for parading an 8-year-old girl from class to class after a classmate falsely accused her of stealing $5.

Marlene Whitby, principal at William Penn Elementary School in the Pittsburgh suburb of Elizabeth, submitted her resignation Wednesday, and the district's school board accepted it unanimously.

Whitby and the school's administration came under fire this month when the parents of third-grader Katie White protested that Whitby had not been punished for the September incident.

After the classmate accused the girl of stealing the $5, Whitby took her from room to room, calling her a liar and thief. The other child later recanted the story.

The girl's father, Ryan White, said that when he spoke to Whitby she acknowledged that she didn't look at a school bus video or talk to the bus driver to verify the theft accusation.

He said Superintendent Paul Mueller and Whitby agreed that the principal would publicly apologize, but parents said the apology wasn't clearly worded and their children didn't understand what Whitby was saying. Whitby was also suspended for three days with pay.

Whitby earlier declined to comment. No telephone listings in her name could be found this week.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/5346646/detail.html

Appalling.

What gets into the heads of some of these off the wall types? It doesn't happen that often, but dizzam! These people who strip search children, or purposely humilate them! Even if this child had stolen, this was wrong as punishment.

Shame doesn't work.

Pain and suffering. I wouldn't just want her fired, I'd take her to court. That kind of thing can scar a kid for life. I'd sue in civil court just to prove a point to my daughter, but just ask for not much actual monetary damages, and what we win give to a local childrens' charity.

How can we expect kids to learn that admitting when they're wrong is a good thing if we can't get adults to do it.

For too many people, "I'm sorry" is a phrase that is just too difficult to say... and that's a shame.

Not all of them, of course, as I've known some fine administrators in my career as an educator. Others, though, are completely disconnected from reality, and are only concerned about their own careers rather than the education of their students.

My heart breaks for her..how humiliating. Something like that could affect her for life..and there will always be those who say she stole the money even after having it explained to them that she didn't.

I'm angry...and if I were her mother I can't even imagine how I would feel.

Reminds me of the scene in "Jane Eyre" where that f*ing bastard Mr. Brocklehurst - for no good reason - stands young Jane up in front of everyone at Lowood academy and tells them that she's a wicked girl and they should ostracise her. :grr:

This is a child of color?