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Post Info TOPIC: 'Bullied to death by her math teacher': Educator's daily torment led special needs girl, 12, to kill herself
Lady Gaga Snerd


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'Bullied to death by her math teacher': Educator's daily torment led special needs girl, 12, to kill herself
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'Bullied to death by her math teacher': Educator's daily torment led special needs girl, 12, to kill herself, Manhattan dad says in lawsuit

  • Stephanie Almonte hung herself from her bunk bed in May 2014 
  • Her father Ivan claims she was abused at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City 
  • Documents allege Nina Gribetz subjected her to regular 'embarrassment'
  • 34-year-old would give her detentions for 'no reason', lawsuit claims 
  • Youngster had history of depression and was diagnosed as special needs 
  • Teacher says she was 'fond' of the student and 'loved Stephanie dearly'

By Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:33 EST, 15 May 2015 | Updated: 23:33 EST, 15 May 2015

 

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A 12-year-old student killed herself because she was bullied by her math teacher, the girl's father has claimed.

Stephanie Almonte hung herself from a bunk bed after she was allegedly tormented by educator Nina Gribetz at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City.

In a lawsuit seen by the New York Daily News, Ivan Almonte cites her classmates, who said the youngster was used as a 'target' during lessons.

 

Tragic: Stephanie Almonte, 12, hung herself from a bunk bed after she was tormented by her teacher at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City, a lawsuit by her father claims 
 
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Tragic: Stephanie Almonte, 12, hung herself from a bunk bed after she was tormented by her teacher at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City, a lawsuit by her father claims 

The documents reportedly say that Stephanie was subjected to 'micromanagement, excessive detentions for no reason on a daily basis' and 'embarrassment in front of other students in the same class'.

The youngster, who had a history of depression, was also allegedly given negative feedback on her report cards in a bid to get her in trouble with her parents.

The abuse, according to the suit, continued even after she was placed in a special needs program in December 2012.

In an interview with the Daily News, her older brother said his sister simply did not want to go to school anymore. 

 

 

Ivan Almonte Jr, 25, told the paper: 'I would put all the blame on that teacher. As a professional, how could you make a student feel that way? As a teacher she should have been helping students, not making them feel lower.' 

Three of Stephanie's friends, who gathered on Friday for a vigil, said the teacher was always 'on top' of the schoolgirl and little mishaps such as 'dropping a pencil' would land her in detention.  

 
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Claims: The claim alleges Nina Gribetz, 34, subjected the youngster to 'micromanagement, excessive detentions for no reason on a daily basis' and 'embarrassment in front of other students in the same class'

Problems: The girl hung herself by her bunk bed after her father, Ivan, visited the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City (pictured)
 
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Problems: The girl hung herself by her bunk bed after her father, Ivan, visited the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City (pictured)

Stephanie committed suicide after her father visited school officials in May 2014 to discuss her grades. She was pronounced dead in hospital the next day. 

Gribetz, who is not named as a defendant in the suit, told the Daily News she was fond of the student and 'loved Stephanie dearly'. 

On a dating profile, she says she was 'born and bred in the Upper West Side'.

In her description she, the educator says: 'I love to laugh, play games, read, go to movies and fun restaurants, hang out with my family and friends.' 

A sixth-grader also backed Gribetz up, saying it's hard to believe she would 'torment or tease' a child. 

 

 

She has no disciplinary history and is still working at the school, the Daily News reported.  

History: The abuse, according to the suit, continued even after she was placed in a special needs program in December 2012. She also had been battling depression
 
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History: The abuse, according to the suit, continued even after she was placed in a special needs program in December 2012. She also had been battling depression



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3084128/Bullied-death-math-teacher-Educator-s-daily-torment-led-special-needs-girl-12-kill-Manhattan-dad-says-lawsuit.html#ixzz3aIihP0Xv
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Lady Gaga Snerd


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"The youngster, who had a history of depression, was also allegedly given negative feedback on her report cards in a bid to get her in trouble with her parents."

This is very tragic. So now we can't have teachers giving 'negative feedback to kids on their report cards? Where does this end? We are raising people who are so fragile that the least of perceived negatives causes them to commit suicide. What do we need to do to teach kids how to be resilient?

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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"...her older brother said his sister simply did not want to go to school anymore.
Ivan Almonte Jr, 25, told the paper: 'I would put all the blame on that teacher. As a professional, how could you make a student feel that way? As a teacher she should have been helping students, not making them feel lower."

Her older brother puts "all the blame on the teacher"? So, he or his family didn't have a responsibility towards her?


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Lawyerlady


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If this was so horrible, were they at the school before lodging complaints?

It's a terrible tragedy, and when things like this happen, people want someone to blame.

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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We are raising an entire generation of people that completely collapse and crumble under the slightest difficulties. What can society do?

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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I used to ask around in the community to find out who the "mean " teachers were. ANd then I requested them for my kids because I knew they would require more of them and make them tow the line.

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flan327


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I should probably stay off this thread.

flan

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Lady Gaga Snerd


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Just because someone CLAIMS bullying doesn't mean that bullying took place flan.

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chillepeppa


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

Just because someone CLAIMS bullying doesn't mean that bullying took place flan.

In general, sure. Unfortunately, that makes the actual cases of bullying get dismissed as entitled and thrown in with the rest of the attention seekers.

So the question would be, how would one go about differentiating between the real ones and the fake ones?



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flan327


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

Just because someone CLAIMS bullying doesn't mean that bullying took place flan.

I do understand that.

DS2 was the original strong-willed child. From 4th grade onward, every teacher tried to break his spirit...except for one, who knew how to channel his energy in positive ways.

flan 



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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So far I have heard "negative comments" on the report card and calling on her in class. And, as far as excessive detentions and "micromanagement', what does that mean? Being embarrassed. Ok. Were you never embarrassed in class?
It said her father went in to discuss her GRADES not bullying.

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lilyofcourse


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This girl didn't kill herself because of grades or the teacher.

This girl killed herself because she was depressed and had diminished ability to make rational decisions.

The father wants someone to blame.



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Charley Harper
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Obviously, IF accurate, then this is terrible.

I just have a hard time believing the father's account here. Plus, not everything he mentions would be considered bullying.

It's the teacher's JOB to put negative marks on a report card if they are merited.

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It's the same mentality as those who don't keep score and everyone needs an award.

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lilyofcourse wrote:

It's the same mentality as those who don't keep score and everyone needs an award.

I disagree...if this is an accurate statement:

Three of Stephanie's friends, who gathered on Friday for a vigil, said the teacher was always 'on top' of the schoolgirl and little mishaps such as 'dropping a pencil' would land her in detention. 

flan



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lilyofcourse


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I know that happens. But at the same time, it's one class.

I am not saying teachers do not single out kids. It's happened to mine. It happened to me. But that one teacher wasn't the core of the problem.

The depression was the real problem.

If the depression wasn't an issue, the teachers actions wouldn't have been much more than pain in the butt.

We have to stop blaming others and look at the real problem.

Diagnosing and treating depression.

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Charley Harper
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I just have a hard time with the parents not doing anything if she really got detention for dropping a pencil. Why wouldn't they see and talk to the teacher before now?

And if it's not true - this all just turned into a witch hunt against the teacher.

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flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:

It's the same mentality as those who don't keep score and everyone needs an award.

I disagree...if this is an accurate statement:

Three of Stephanie's friends, who gathered on Friday for a vigil, said the teacher was always 'on top' of the schoolgirl and little mishaps such as 'dropping a pencil' would land her in detention. 

flan

I doubt if that is accurate.  They are missing their friend--and looking for someone to blame.  Little things that were no big deal all of a sudden become huge.  I sincerely doubt she got a detention just for that--even if it looked that way to the other kids.  They don't always know the whole situation. 

 

At any rate, even if the worst of the allegations are true--it still doesn't necessarily follow that they "caused" her death.  LOTS of kids have trouble with various teachers or other students.  MANY kids have parents that beat the hell out of them on a regular basis--and they don't kill themselves.   



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I had a teacher who was "constantly on me" and dropping an eraser resulted in the teacher spanking me (I was in 1st grade). I hated that woman. So much so that when I was in high school and working in the school district's personnel office, I looked her up. I found great relief learning she was dead.

There would be no way someone like that would make me want to kill...myself. They aren't worth it.

It's tragic. But I wish it would raise more awareness to depression and possible solutions.

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Well when u kill yourself over them , you are saying that the opinions of the bully matter far more than the opinions of all the people who love you. That is tragic.

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lilyofcourse


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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

Well when u kill yourself over them , you are saying that the opinions of the bully matter far more than the opinions of all the people who love you. That is tragic.

 But that's the thing with mental illness. The balance isn't there. 

 

 



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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I know. But I don't think we help kids by focusing on their victim status. Do you?

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lilyofcourse


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Dealing with the actual depression is not focusing on victimhood.

You get treatment.

Depression doesn't make someone a victim.



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Lady Gaga Snerd


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You are missing my point but ok. I agree with u.

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lilyofcourse


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Then what is your point? I must have missed it.

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When SS was in first grade he got written up because he broke the tip of his pencil 13 times in one day. This woman was a biotch. Every Friday when his weekly report came home we had a huge long list of "infractions" my SS had committed. They were all minor stuff. She told us every week he needed ADD meds. She didn't like him and made that clear. It was miserable. I am not saying that my SS was an angel. He is not. He can be a handful. Anyway, my point here is I don't know what happened in THIS case but there are definitely teachers out there who pick on kids.

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lilyofcourse


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Oh for sure it happens. I had a come to Jesus talk with more than one over the years.



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from the article am thinking the parents bear the bulk of the responsibility here--the girl spent only part of the day at school--what about the rest of the day ? what the hell were the parents doing to help / guide this girl ? were they indifferent to her condition ? were they physically absent ? not much information on their input / participation in this young girl's upbringing

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lilyofcourse wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

Well when u kill yourself over them , you are saying that the opinions of the bully matter far more than the opinions of all the people who love you. That is tragic.

 But that's the thing with mental illness. The balance isn't there. 

 

 

Maybe--but it then doesn't make what happens the fault of someone else. 

 

The teacher may have treated all her students equally--at least according to their ability (meaning those who EARNED positive marks on their report card got them)--but this one killed herself.

 

Any one person can't be expected to know what will tip some depressed person over the edge.   



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