Teachers Shakedown Third Graders for Missing Five Dollars

A Teacher Stole a Little Girl's Candybar and Ate it in Front of Rer!

Teachers at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Hopkinsville, Kentucky forced a classroom of third graders to remove their shoes and socks after five dollars disappeared from a teacher's desk on February 15th, 2008. Teachers also threatened the children with prison and forced their hands into students' pockets looking for the missing money. One girl claims a teacher stole her candy bar and ate it in front of her. Parents claim the school district is trying to cover this story up.

An envelope with five dollars vanished from a teacher's desk. The envelope was found empty in the trash. The students were questioned and none admitted any knowledge of the missing five dollars. Substitute teacher Patricia Dawson and student teacher Cassandra Fann then enlisted teachers Gwendolyn Parker and Chris Dudley for help.

The teachers then searched the students' desks and other personal belongings but didn't find the missing money. At that point, Gwendolyn Parker demanded the students remove their shoes and socks. The four teachers then commenced to frisk and search the childrens' pockets as they threatened them with prison time if they found the missing five dollars. The money was never recovered.

Student Hannah Skuljan said her entire class was crying and had no idea what was happening. Hannah also said substitute teacher Patricia Dawson pulled up her shirt before shoving her hands in her pockets."I didn't know what was going on," she said. Hannah also claims that Patricia Dawson stole her candy bar and ate it in front of her.

The four teacher received reprimands for violating the school district's policy on searches. MLK principle Sarah Newman a week later wrote a letter to the parents explaining the incident. She neglected to mention the fact the students were forcibly, physically searched or give an apology.