A Minnesota school district which recently paid a family $25,000 after a high school junior was harassed by two teachers over his perceived sexual orientation, has announced that the teachers involved are on leave.
The Star Tribune reported in August, "The boy's 'fence swings both ways,' teacher Diane Cleveland
commented during a class in the 2007-2008 school year, according to an
investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. When the boy wrote a report on Ben Franklin, Cleveland allegedly
said before the entire class that the boy had a 'thing for older men.'
Another teacher, Walter Filson, said in front of other students that
the boy 'enjoys wearing women's clothes.' When the boy decided to
report on Abraham Lincoln, Filson allegedly said, 'Since you like your
men older …' the Human Rights report said."
Now, the paper reports: "Diane Cleveland, a 39-year-old social studies teacher, and Walter
Filson, a 56-year-old law enforcement teacher, went on leave within the
past week, said Ginny Karbowski, director of career and technical
education for the Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) in
Anoka, where the two taught. Cleveland's attorney, Phil Villaume, said: 'Our position is that she
is taking an unpaid, voluntary leave of absence at her request. …
This was done in the last week, and it was her decision and her
decision alone.' Villaume doesn't represent Filson and couldn't comment
on his status. Filson couldn't be reached for comment."
The teachers should be fired.
