An influential Latino community group that oversees a number of charter schools in Chicago tried to cover up the sexual assault of a student -- and retaliated against the teacher reporting the incident, a federal lawsuit claims.
The alleged assault occurred last November at the Major Hector P. Garcia M.D. High School, run by the United Neighborhood Organization, or UNO.
A male student getting ready in the locker room for gym class was pinned by a teenager while another student rubbed his genitals against the victim, according to the lawsuit and interviews.
The alleged victim resisted and was beaten, to the extent that red marks were visible on his body, the suit claims.
When gym teacher David Corral saw the boy minutes later, it was clear something had transpired, so Corral contacted a counselor for help, the suit says.
School officials pieced together what happened, police were called to the South Side building -- at 4248 W. 47th St. -- and the alleged assailants were arrested, the suit claims. Law enforcement authorities confirmed the two were arrested, but the case was eventually dropped.
Corral was fired days later for "improper monitoring of students' behavior overall and in the locker rooms," according to UNO spokesman Mark Flores.
Corral, though, filed a lawsuit against the UNO Charter School Network in June saying he really was canned because he blew the whistle on the incident, which school officials had wanted to keep secret…
Garcia High, which has 450 students, is one of UNO's nine charter schools. They receive public funding but aren't subject to many of the stringent rules in place at traditional public schools.
The inspector general's office for Chicago Public Schools was unaware of the lawsuit until contacted by the Better Government Association.
An IG official said his agency has jurisdiction to look into the matter, and now plans to do so…
Major Hector P. Garcia M.D. High School
WAS TEACHER FIRED FOR REPORTING ABUSE?; LOST JOB AFTER REPORTING ALLEGED ASSAULT IN LOCKER ROOM, October 31, 2010, Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
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12 comments:
Given the climate that exists at UNO, this doesn't surprise me in the least. Stiff and uptight doesn't even begin to describe this environment. When I was there, I was pressured to provide answers on tests to students who didn't get the material in order to boost grades.
This isn't the first case of abuse reported at an UNO charter school. Students have reported desks being thrown across the classroom by senior teachers, books being thrown at students, physical restraint and kicking of students. The UNO superiors lashed back at students who complained and suspended some. Witnesses were dismissed. Cover-ups followed. It is endemic in the UNO culture and enforced with a heavy political hand.
As a former student and a witness to the bathroom incedent I would love to clear the smoke. Yes it is true that we get to see our test grades so that we eventually understand what's being tested. But, isn't that how you learn from your misteaks. The mission of Uno Charter Schools is one. Success.
As for the second comment, this is very rediculous. The reason being is because Hector P. Garcia is the first ever Uno HighSchool. If you do the math since they opened, that means that they only are in there 3rd year. There is no such think as senior teachers. They don't exist.
Now back to the issue with Mr. Corral. Yes we were playing in the bathroom. Childplay. Everybody blew it very out of porportion. The "victom", M$#2e%, witnessed other kids being messed around like that. It had been going on for weeks remember that. However, in his case when it happened to him. He was caught off guard, lost balance, feel on the floor. This makes one ask: Well then, what about the bruises on the face? The floor is made out of a very rough paint in order to become slip resistand. If you fall right on it though, it would hurt and bruise you. No one beat him. I picked him up after I seen him on the floor. I told the others to leave. Some of them didn't want to as they were even going to be late for next period. Anywho, he was okay. A bit hurt because of the fall. That's when Mr.Corral came in on him and I. I left to music. All of the gym students are in music with me.(Were n a block schedual)They asked me what had happened.I thought everything was all good. Next thing you know, they call everystudent out one by one. It took them till 5 to get different stories from everyone. Hell.I even lied. I don't want to one to get nailed. That's how us Mexicans do.:p
But, It was wrong to blame Mr.Corral for not watching over us. We're changing. How is he going to monitor us doing that without getting fired.
Well, the parents were do pissed off they wanted something to happen. E-mail me if you need more info., Corral. just reply to this comment, and I'll check it in a week or two. Thank you.
As a former student and a witness to the bathroom incedent I would love to clear the smoke. Yes it is true that we get to see our test grades so that we eventually understand what's being tested. But, isn't that how you learn from your misteaks. The mission of Uno Charter Schools is one. Success.
As for the second comment, this is very rediculous. The reason being is because Hector P. Garcia is the first ever Uno HighSchool. If you do the math since they opened, that means that they only are in there 3rd year. There is no such think as senior teachers. They don't exist.
Now back to the issue with Mr. Corral. Yes we were playing in the bathroom. Childplay. Everybody blew it very out of porportion. The "victom", M$#2e%, witnessed other kids being messed around like that. It had been going on for weeks remember that. However, in his case when it happened to him. He was caught off guard, lost balance, feel on the floor. This makes one ask: Well then, what about the bruises on the face? The floor is made out of a very rough paint in order to become slip resistand. If you fall right on it though, it would hurt and bruise you. No one beat him. I picked him up after I seen him on the floor. I told the others to leave. Some of them didn't want to as they were even going to be late for next period. Anywho, he was okay. A bit hurt because of the fall. That's when Mr.Corral came in on him and I. I left to music. All of the gym students are in music with me.(Were n a block schedual)They asked me what had happened.I thought everything was all good. Next thing you know, they call everystudent out one by one. It took them till 5 to get different stories from everyone. Hell.I even lied. I don't want to one to get nailed. That's how us Mexicans do.:p
But, It was wrong to blame Mr.Corral for not watching over us. We're changing. How is he going to monitor us doing that without getting fired.
Well, the parents were do pissed off they wanted something to happen. E-mail me if you need more info., Corral. just reply to this comment, and I'll check it in a week or two. Thank you.
I would take it from the response above, along with not informing students about abusive situations, the UNO school also neglects to teach students spelling and grammar.
Shocking and dismaying that UNO produces apparently uniformed, uneducated "sheeple".
The student, however un-eloquent, is right. The term is Master Teacher, not senior teacher. However, the title is a technicality and does not reduce the gravity of what is happening to students in the abusive UNO system.
Say what you say. I don't understand how you can call my school school abusive. I know that we are being taken care of daily. Tell me why are "all" my friends drop outs but 2 that I went to elementary school with. Thank you.
It's like people love to bitch at things for no reason.
Someone please explain to me why is Uno Abusive? Don't make stupid comments unless you can back them up.
Lorena
Please know that the student here is not representative of some UNO students.I am a student there as well, but I do not blindly pledge allegiance to UNO like my fellow peer.I think the way UNO handled the whole situation, the firing of the gym teacher, the suspension of the two students who committed the act (warranting only a 3-5 day suspension a light punishment, if you ask me),and the aftermath within the school made look like some media outlets suggest, a cover-up. I totally agree with that assessment, UNO is ALWAYS covering up incidents within the school, as Juan Rangel cannot afford incidents like this to plague UNO, it will be too much heat for that wannabe politician to deal with.
Not necessarily true about the remarks of students getting books and desk thrown. I've been there for 4 years and all the teachers are from the white ethnic group.. well.. the high school is.... students from elementary schools have a mixture of africanamerican teachers, whites, mexican, and even chinese teachers... so these remarks have been overexaggerated and most likely not true! Our teachers would let this kind of information or event, told to us. So quit with all these unproffesional remarks and stop trying to make our school look bad. Its better than CPS schools anyhow, when they're actually preparing us for college and a better future. Unlike CPS schools... they lost control of that situation almost a decade ago... so in conclusion... Just keep your remarks and complains to yourself. Thank you.
Chicago newspapers just reported a major misappropriation of government issued funds and crony corruption in the UNO system. Google UNO Charter System Scandal.
It's about time! Can't wait to watch the free fall! Implosion!
Yes! Implosion! Free fall!
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