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Kindergarten Gym Teacher: "Tiny Terror" Beat Me Up!
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 1, 2012
Modified Oct 1, 2012
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Glenda M. Powers / shutterstock
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 1, 2012
Modified Oct 1, 2012
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"It's been a nightmare. It's embarrassing. It's humiliating," John Webster, a 27-year-old, 5'10" gym teacher, told the Post of an altercation he had last year with a 4'2" tall six-year-old named Rodrigo Carpio. According to Webster, a temper tantrum unleashed by the then-50 pound tyke left the 220-pound teacher with a fractured ankle, an injured knee and serious stress that makes it hard to work. "[Rodrigo] looks like an angel, but then, all of a sudden, that halo turns into horns," the teacher told the tabloid (which yes, has pictures of both parties).
According to Webster, who played football in college, the boy went wild while being taken to lunch with his classmates—and not only struck the gym teacher but also another teacher, a security officer and the Elmhurst school's principal. He's backed up too: According to an April 26 school 'occurrence report' filed by the principal Rodrigo "was physically aggressive" and karate-kicked Webster in the knee and ankle that day.
Webster, who recently filed a notice of his intent to sue the city, says he now has to wear braces on his right ankle and knee and that "his doctor told him he had to stay away from work for several months because of his physical and emotional state." A Department of Education doctor, on the other hand, said get back to work. "I'm in limbo," Webster explained to the Post.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo is back at school, but now on medication. "He is much better now," his mother reports. Still, his parents doubt the whole thing. "The lawsuit is totally absurd," his father, Jorge Carpio says. "How could my little boy do so much damage? My poor son."
The Department of Education has yet to comment on the case.
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