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Subscribe to RSSA Florida high school teacher was suspended for allegedly making her students wear a wide-brimmed, plastic dog collar as a form of discipline, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
In a stern letter sent to Zephyrhills High School science teacher Laurie Bailey-Cutkomp, Superintendent Heather Fiorentino wrote that she would recommend Bailey-Cutkomp be fired.
"I am very concerned that you used this collar to punish and embarrass students in front of their peers," Fiorentino wrote.
Bailey-Cutkomp allegedly gave students the option of wearing the collar or sitting at the tardy table if they arrived late to class. Eight students ended up wearing the collar, the superintendent said.
Read Superintendent Fiorentino's letter
Fiorentino described the cone as a “collar used to prevent animals who have had surgery from licking their wounds” and said the collar was inspired by the popular Pixar movie, “Up,” in which a pudgy golden retriever named Dug is forced to wear a “cone of shame.”
Bailey-Cutkomp had shown the movie to her class on the days before and after spring break, Fiorentino wrote. Bailey-Cutkomp had told administrators she did so because attendance is typically low on those days and she did not want her students to fall behind.
Dug, a golden retriever mix from the Pixar movie, "Up," was forced by other dogs to wear a dog collar, which he called "the cone of shame."
When students expressed interest about the cone of shame after seeing the movie, Bailey-Cutkomp, who has a veterinary background, explained that its proper name is an Elizabethan collar. (The name is a nod to Elizabethan times, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, when the monarch and her subjects wore fashionable “ruffs,” or puffy, lacy collars around their necks.)
Administrators found out about the cone of shame after students posted photos of each other wearing the dog collar to Facebook.
“When asked how you selected students to wear the collar,” Fiorentino wrote in her letter, “you explained that you initially used it to redirect student behavior.”
Bailey-Cutkomp did not immediately reply to a message requesting comment sent to her work e-mail.
Related story: Cops say girl, 12, made to wear diaper in public after 'F'
Bailey-Cutkomp’s use of the dog cone is a variation of the dunce cap, which was a large piece of paper fashioned into a cone and placed on a child’s head. Children who had greater difficulty learning or paying attention were most often deemed the dunces.
Typically, the child was then made to stand in the corner of the classroom as a form of humiliation.
The dunce cap went out of fashion in the 20th century, according to wisegeek.com, and modern educators find there are few, if any, benefits to public humiliation.
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Without discipline, there is no education.
and apparentlly without education you can become a high school teacher in florida.
If these kids were forced to wear the cone of shame for academic reasons, then I would agree with the Superintendent. But that's not the case... these kids had to wear it for being late to class. When I was in H.S., if you were late to class you had to sit in after school detention.
There isn't a single kid sitting in after school detention that wouldn't opt for the cone of shame over detention.
Superintendent Fiorentino sounds like the type of administrator that gives a trophy to 15th place in order to make sure no student's gentle feelings are compromised. Ms. Bailey-Cutkomp should QUIT the lame-ass school she's at now and teach somewhere else. I'm sure not every administrator is as extreme as Superintendent Fiorentino.
Unless of course, Ms. Bailey-Cutkomp was actually a lousy teacher and this was the excuse the school used to can her. I guess we'll never really know....
Shaming a student is hardly the same as applying discipline to a child. Shaming does nothing but erode a person's self-image, but discipline, when properly designed and used, builds character and a strong sense of self.
I taught for many years, and the last thing I ever wanted to do was to shame a student, or anyone else, for that matter. It is not constructive. It's destructive.
Years ago the students would wear a DUNCE CAP. My grandparents would have to go cut their own switches to be used on them. In Kansas Grade School, Junior High and High School you would get swats from a board for bad behavior, then our parents would give it to us when we got home to. In Junior High the swats came for failing or not studying for a test. Today's children get expelled for bringing a 2" yellow plastic toy gun to school. In the 60s we wore jeans/slacks, shirts/tee shirts with pockets and no logos on them, socks, no sandals, and your hair had to be off your collar. When you lower the standards you lower the expectations of our youth and form the Society that will someday run or ruin our Country.
First of all, Hillsborogh County is hardly a scion of eductional excellence and Zepherhills is a tiny rural community. Secondly, after school detention is ineffective as a disciplinary tool. It has more impact on the teacher/administrator who supervises it than it does the detainees being held over. Thirdly, public humiliation is a highly effective way to modify behavior. A little embarassment can go a long way, especially when the peers reenforce it. However, it seems that in this particular situation, it was not having the desired effect. The school board needs to look into its mentoring program, which apparantly does not exist, and improve classroom discipline by developing its teachers classroom management skills. The respected faculty and administrators need to do a much better job of inspiring a student body who respect education and commit to promoting a classroom decorum that enhances the learning experience. Even students who are committed to their own education can improve the classroom environment and thereby ensure their own learning outcome is the best that it can be.
Cone of shame for behavior issue - OK
Cone of shame for not turning in homework or assignment - OK
Cone of shame for a wrong answer - NOT OK
When I went to school, the above 2 were rewarded with wacks (the business end of a paddle) I would love to see the paddle brought back! Less crap the teachers have to take, less fights in school. (2 students fighting? they both trade wacks until both agree to stop...simple, quickly finished and no blood)
I agree. Simple as that. Discipline has become such a political weapon that it defeats its own purpose. Everybody is the same until somebody is viewed as being treated differently these days.
Most schools where I have taught simply send a repeatedly tardy student to in-school suspension room, rather than allowing them to disrupt the class. Staff members in the hall intercept them before they ever reach the classroom. (Of course, there are always excepts for emergencies...) They must make up the class work on their own.
It seems that the school has failed to put a system into place to prevent class interruptions. Obviously this teacher felt the need to take this into her own hands, albeit in a manner that is perhaps inappropriate.
Need to bring back corporal punishment. I graduated in 83. All through school, (elementary, junior/senior high) if you disrespected the teacher, you got 3 swats. Teachers were respected, today they fear the students.
Perhaps the dunce cone was a bit much. I propose that students who continually disrupt a classroom, or fail to follow the basic discipline requirements at school, receive a rubber stamp to the forehead that reads "Don't Follow Me, I'm Stupid". The ink should be designed to wear off after three or four days.
Nah, within days the classrooms would be filled with kids wearing "I'm With Stupid" t-shirts, as a show of solidarity.
Oh no, god forbid someone gets embarrassed, this teacher must be hitler's equivalent, what an evil person trying to use shame as a form of disciplining when we all know that everyone should be treated like theyre special.
What a bunch of wusses we're raising in this country.
I agree, kids today are worthless as a rule. No respect for anyone or anything not even for themselves. But the truth be told the parents of these kids are also worthless.
Kids have no respect for authority, rules or even their parents anymore.
This teacher did nothing wrong. We are now living in a society where everyone gets offended over the petiest things. so he had to wear a cone... BIG DEAL.....
I feel awful that this teacher is getting punished for this!
Ever notice that shows when we were growing up (Cosby show for example) had the parents, teachers, police, (adults in general) as the authority figure... and shows today (anything on Disney for example) have the adults, parents, teachers, police portrayed as morons and the kids rule?
I have two kids, when they talk back/roll their eyes, they do pushups and yes, even in the middle of the mall! When they are late, they don't do their chores, etc. they are held accountable. Kids need discipline! Call me a bad-evil-mean mom but I'd put my kids up against any kid in this country and you'd be impressed.
.. Maybe schools should just be run by the kids. Teachers can just stay home and fill out passport applications.
This teacher actually used a rather comical way to discipline her students. It's one over-thinking superintendent making this much bigger than it is, maybe she should be the one to get fired.
as a parent i can not even tell you how out raged i am at this teachers tactics.
SHE IS NOT THE PARENT!!!!
do not dare to tread in my business. if my child is tardy and late for classes repeatedly then it is your job to inform me of such. that and only that!!!!
as a parent i am more than capable and more than willing to deal with my own child in my own way!!!!
the b..ch should be fired and never, ever allowed to teach again.
the problem with kids in school today is the PARENTS!!!! if you would do your own job and stop letting everyone else do it for you, your kids might have different attitudes.
i am so sick and tired of these public humiliations. they do far more damage and they do absolutely no good. they need to be stopped.
i am the parent, you are the teacher. you teach reading, writing and math. i teach morals, respect, integrity, honesty, responsibility, and 8 million other things. and i sure as hell don't need any help from a teacher like this.
Haha...Really...your one of "those parents"! You sound so stupid! I would hardly call what she did as parenting but instead disciplining. If you really think that she should be fired I would like to see you take her place and see how well your class runs.
I don't agree with this teacher's tactics; shame only shuts students down. And furthermore, the fact that the students were taking pictures with their cell phones and posting on facebook shows that they did not get the point of the punishment and that the teacher wasn't following through with anything (i.e. why would they have out cell phones in class, esp if they're being punished?).
For most students, the only place they get any discipline and any sort of role-model is at school. You're right when you say that the problem with education is a lack of involvement on most parents' part. The complaint I hear from most of my colleagues is the lack of parent involvement; there are a good number of students in the schools where I substitute teach who have parents who are under-educated, have their own learning disabilities or are too involved with their cell phones, drugs and alcohol to bother being involved with their kids (and somehow they're allowed to have more).
I disagree with your statement "i teach morals, respect, integrity, honesty, responsibility, and 8 million other things". A parent SHOULD teach those things, but a teacher should, too. It is a teacher's responsibility to make sure that students are educated in all of the various subject matters and in being a decent human being with a strong sense of character. It would help if those ideas were reinforced at home, but the truth is- it doesn't happen.
SORRY CURRY-1960 but you are way off base. The teacher is there to teach, yes! but they are also with these kids all day and ARE a form of authority that kids are no longer respecting.....Unfortunately it all starts in the home and with comments like yours, you are the perfect example of the lack of parenting being seen more and more in this country......this is EXACTLY why the young are so lost....parents who don't want to take the time to teach their kids the RIGHT THINGS are the ones teaching them to be 'TOUGH'...disrespectful and hateful. They are completely out of control. But sure go ahead....don't let ANYONE get into YOUR BUSINESS....or your kids! until they become criminals. You're so full of @!$%#!
You won't like any school I am aware of. Begin home schooling.
Curry-1960, you sound like an idiot.... ha ha, I can't believe I took the time to write even this much.
Why not just ban any form of discipline in school and let the kiddies come late and do whatever pleases them in class............................
When you can't discipline your kid as a parent for fear of being charged with child abuse and hauled off to jail, its up to educators to take on a more rigid role. Teachers are NOT the kids' feeble parents and they should not have to put up with disrespectful, rude, undisciplined brats. I say whatever it takes to instill respect, a certain amount of fear and discipline in the classroom.
There is a HUGE difference between abuse and discipline.
you rack disciprine!!!!
Psychological WarFare...since this is the ha concealed global constitution of how RULER$ control the population...it has filtered down in to how to TEACH and that is regardless of the Institution doing the TEACHING! Look @ all the ways this is done starting with what is demanded that a CHILD must learn? Go back to the ROOTS of the problem ppl!
The *clock* designed to keep TRACK of time that you must OBEY according to the RULER$ for their $. Surely everyone looks @ the *CLOCK* and says THANK YOU you are the best invention on EARTH to RULE how LIFE became $LAVE and for whose BENEFIT$!
TIME OUT! Go search HISTORY! Humiliation! What tactics are used to mess up PROGRAMMING of Peoples MINDS?
And don't DARE say anything Derogatory about the Ruler$ ...that is not acceptable! pfffffffffts
Yes $IR! Yes Ma$ter!
Global COURSE in SENSITIVITY TRAINING might be necessary....as being SENSITIVE is considered what ? Non-controlling?
Thank the Con-TROL Freaks on the Planet for the Evolution of ALL PROBLEMS of Rebellion!
Sure, there're benefits. They make the teacher and the other students feel superior.
"It's not enough that I win; someone else must lose."
Pretty vague and broad statement. What study was that based on.
I've got one, "modern parents find there are few, if any, benefits to public education"
yeah, I made that up.
Anyone using shame as a teaching tool needs to get another type of job.
I agree! They shoudl receive a MUCH MUCH higher paying job as a principal!
SERIOUSLY??????????????
MS. FIORENTINO: YOUR ACTION IS THE REASON WHY YOUTH WON'T RESPECT ADULTS....IT'S WHY THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT AUTHORITY...AND HAVE LOST ALL FEAR FOR THE ADULTS AND RULES......teachers and parents keep getting punished for trying to educate the young lads who are a complete mess and at a loss. No wonder we have younger and younger criminals......Now PLEASE...let's not confuse strictness and education with ABUSE.....
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! society is a disaster and you want to punish a teacher for a cone!???? This country is going to hell so fast.
SORRY CURRY-1960 but you are way off base. The teacher is there to teach, yes! but they are also with these kids all day and ARE a form of authority that kids are no longer respecting.....Unfortunately it all starts in the home and with comments like yours, you are the perfect example of the lack of parenting being seen more and more in this country......this is EXACTLY why the young are so lost....parents who don't want to take the time to teach their kids the RIGHT THINGS are the ones teaching them to be 'TOUGH'...disrespectful and hateful. They are completely out of control. But sure go ahead....don't let ANYONE get into YOUR BUSINESS....or your kids! until they become criminals. You're so full of @!$%#!
As a veteran teacher, I cringe when I hear about such things, but not for the reason you all may think. It is obvious that the superintendent is going to fire the teacher, and that this teacher will never, ever again be allowed into the classroom. The shame of it is that this superintendent is over-reacting for the benefit of the few parents who will scream about the supposed damage done to their children (but the kids took pictures and posted it online - does that sound as though they were embarassed?), and that all of this is for show and not for cause. On the other hand, a stronger support system - which the superintendent should have put in place - would have prevented this. So, while ultimately the superintendent is at fault, nobody will ask for HER resignation.
So the students asked about it and were interested in it. So the teacher demonstrates what the students asked about and were interested about.
And the teacher gets in trouble.
"I"m not going to discipline my child at home because I'm too busy, the schools take care of them anyway..."
"Ya can't spank my kid when they are unruly, disruptive, and hurting the rest of the class"
"Ya can't yell at my kid when they are unruly, disruptive, and hurting the rest of the class"
"Ya can't embarrass my kid when they are being unruly, disruptive and hurting the rest of the class"
"Why are there so many school shootings? And why do all these kids think they can get away with anything?"
Anybody else getting a picture of the future?
So which is worse? Allowing a late student to be ashamed for a short time and still get an education, or the way Hawaii does it now. Here, if you are not in class when the bell rings, the door is shut and locked and you miss class that day. IF you miss more than 5 days in a semester, (including illness) you have to make those days up by coming into school on Saturday and sitting around in the cafeteria all day learning nothing. Makes a lot of sense right? NOT!
This is a joke. When watching the news report last night on this teacher's actions, all the students are actually laughing or smiling...taking their OWN pictures. I saw the parent's anger, and it actually appalls me that we've come to such a petty state. This teacher didn't even force them to put the cone on, the students did it willingly-IN ON THE JOKE. We've become way too sensitive over topics that really shouldn't matter on any grand scale. this is too small to have this much attention. The superintendent's response is laughable and should be ashamed of herself. These parents should hang their heads in shame and crawl into a some common sense. I thank my lucky stars every day that I am not related to these morons. I am so completely grateful that I haven't mistakenly befriended any idiots, lol, well of this magnitude. Discipline is NECESSARY. And, no you will not always agree to it. But, geez, I guess these parents work where they get to pick their punishment when they are late to work, too?
good they probably deserved it