Beneath the Scars (Masters of the Shadowlands #13)(125)
Having taken a seat at the table, Gabi made a low sound of disgust. “When victims are dismissed as unimportant by those in authority, it can be very damaging.”
Master Z continued, “Since their reasonable grievances were ignored, the children moved to another method to protest.”
Purcell’s face reddened with his indignation. “Vandalism isn’t another method, it’s—”
“Illegal,” Z said. “I’m aware. Is ignoring severe, persistent abuse also illegal?”
Josie’s eyes widened at the edge in his smooth voice. If she were the principal, she’d be crawling under the table. Around the table, the other parents had frozen.
Marcus’s blue eyes were colder than ice, and anger hardened his slow drawl. “I do believe under federal civil rights laws, schools are obligated to address such conduct…as well as conduct that creates a hostile environment, which detrimentally impacts a student’s ability to benefit from the opportunities offered by a school, as well as abusive conduct based on a student’s race, color, sex, and/or disability.”
The principal flinched. “There…there is no proof of that.”
“It appears that the students, having been ignored over and over”—Z’s grim tone was chilling—“took matters into their own hands. And phones.” He glanced at Holt.
Holt placed a portable projector on the table and set his phone into it. Displayed on the blank white wall, the video opened with the teacher standing beside a seated blonde student, so close his groin was almost in her face.
“Invasion of personal space,” Gabi murmured.
The clip changed to him, his finger belligerently pointing in a brown-skinned boy’s face. “Can’t figure out the carbon cycle? Maybe you should get your tail back to Me-hi-ko where you belong.”
Another clip showed him fingering a girl’s curly hair as she cringed away.
“How can you be so stupid?” This one showed Jorgeson leaning down, his glaring face no more than two inches from Juan’s. The child looked terrified. “Can’t be bothered to do your homework? Because you’re stupid. Stupid and lazy.”
Clip after clip flicked by. Different students. Different classes.
Purcell said faintly, “Recordings in the classroom aren’t allowed. Florida has a wiretap law.”
“Wiretap statutes apply when a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, not in a classroom,” Marcus said firmly. “But I can understand why you wouldn’t want this video made available to the news media…or playing on Facebook.”
The principal went totally white.
Master Z said, “I viewed this recording several times. The instructor’s behavior is blatantly abusive. There is not only bullying, but also predatory sexual behavior, as well as racism and bigotry. You’ve opened your school to a wealth of civil suits.”
Marcus crossed his arms over his chest. “Criminal ones as well. I can take this to a jury, sir, and I can win.”
“The teacher has to go.” Gabi gave the principal an icy stare. “The students in his classes are victims of abuse. You will see that they get counseling—at the school’s cost.”
“Yes.” The principal’s shoulders sagged. Then his mouth flattened. “But whoever took the recording is—”
With a laugh, Holt turned the projector off. “I think about half of Jorgeson’s students recorded him at one time or another, especially after they and their parents were ignored because the school officials needed ‘proof’. Since you asked for proof, a court might see your demand as giving permission to obtain it.”
The principal’s mouth closed. After a second, he pointed to the boys. “Nonetheless, they committed vandalism.”
“They did.” Josie squared her shoulders. She, Holt, and the other parents had discussed what would happen if they reached this point. The fight was in her corner now. “It’s appalling that children in this school have learned that the authorities who should have been their advocates were, instead, their adversaries”—the principal winced—“still…we agree they’re old enough to have considered the ramifications before acting. Doing the right thing can still come with consequences.”
“Exactly.” The principal started to look more cheerful. The asshole.
“So we think the children should work with the maintenance crew in washing windows since that was what they broke. At minimum wage. They will work until they’ve repaid their portion of the window’s replacement.”
Purcell nodded and then frowned. “And?”
“They broke it. They’ll work to pay off the replacement cost,” Josie said firmly. “Punishing them further because you and the school board failed to protect vulnerable minors from an abusive adult? Absolutely not.”
A tiny whisper came from her son, “Go, Mom.”
The principal looked at her, at the three “experts”, and took in the resolute expressions of the other parents. After a long moment, he scowled. “All right.”
He glanced at Holt. “The recordings…I don’t suppose…”
Holt simply stared at him…and pocketed his phone.
Master Z looked at Josie and inclined his head an infinitesimal amount. Gabi winked, and Marcus gave her a small smile before they all headed for the door.