Teacher 'hit schoolgirl with stick for taking too long to wash hands' claims mum

A has been accused of brutally punishing a student with a yardstick because they took too long to wash their hands, sparking outrage.

The child’s mother alleged that a teacher at the Sousa Middle School in Washington DC, United States, swatted the bottom of her 14-year-old child while she was washing her hands after when the school bell rang, as the teacher told her to hurry up, according to her mother. , a female student, reported the incident to the school counsellor. The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is now investigating the incident.

Janel Doy Johnson, the mum of the teen, said to FOX5: “I’m devastated, hurt, furious, and kind of scared. I wanted to press charges, for one, and get a report, so I can have something done, and justice done, for what he’s doing to these children in these schools."

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She added that there are allegedly other accusations of inappropriate behaviour by the teacher. The girl also claimed that the teacher put a brush in his pocket that another student had given him to pass to the teen, claiming he did it so she would reach into his pocket to grab the brush.

A letter by the school principal Brittany Green-Pascal told parents: "I am writing to make you aware that an allegation of corporal punishment has recently been made against a Sousa staff member. DCPS treats any allegation of employee misconduct with the greatest importance."

The letter sent to parents confirms that the staff member has been placed on leave and will not be returning to the school while the investigation is under review, according to Fox5. DCPS requires that any allegations of this nature are reported to DC Police, the city's Child and Family Services, and other authorities.

A police report said the teacher justified their actions by saying he was trying to move the girl along. “An 8th-grade student stated that while she was washing her hands at the sink in lab class, her teacher touched her on her left leg and thigh area with a 36-inch ruler,” the report said, according to the Mail.

The report added that the teacher said he "did it for her to hurry her along to leave the classroom for the day." Ms Johnson took to social media, calling for accountability from her daughter's school.

On social media, Ms Johnson added: “I’m a heartbroken and outraged mother. My daughter and several other young girls at her school have come forward with serious accusations of being inappropriately touched by a staff member. I am demanding answers, action, and safety for our children.

“What happened at the school was not 'discipline'. Let’s be clear—this was sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by a trusted adult. My daughter is a well-mannered, respectful child who knows right from wrong, and she bravely spoke up when something didn’t feel right.

“I will not allow this to be downplayed or dismissed as anything less than what it was. No child deserves to be made to feel unsafe at school. Our kids should be protected, not silenced.”