Teacher convicted of assault to return to Morton classroom
MORTON, Wash. -- Mick Moulton has been teaching history at Morton Middle School for almost 18 years.
"He was my fifth grade teacher. A tough-ass, but an all right guy," Nathan Dewaele.
Dewaele never had a problem. But in 1997, some female students said Moulton inappropriately touched them. Court document show more complaints were filed in 2005. Then came a discipline letter from the state followed by more complaints in 2008.
"There's an ethical and moral responsibility on the part of teachers, and I didn't believe he followed that," said Tom Manke, superintendent of Morton Middle School.
Manke fired him. But even though Moulton was convicted of fourth-degree assault, a judge ruled he couldn't be fired. So he'll be back at school next Monday.
But some parents don't want Moulton anywhere near their children.
"She is not going to his class. None of my kids are," said parent John Mitchell. "I have a 16-year-old son, and he is not going, either."
"A lot of my friends - except my friends who are boys - are saying they won't be there because of his action," said 13-year-old Renee Fisher.
The superintendent says 23 parents have asked to have their children pulled from Moulton's class.
"I don't know what's going to happen. The class could be very small, or there could be no kids there," Mitchell said.
The school district says any student who opts out of Moulton's class will be enrolled in an Internet alternative.
"He was my fifth grade teacher. A tough-ass, but an all right guy," Nathan Dewaele.
Dewaele never had a problem. But in 1997, some female students said Moulton inappropriately touched them. Court document show more complaints were filed in 2005. Then came a discipline letter from the state followed by more complaints in 2008.
"There's an ethical and moral responsibility on the part of teachers, and I didn't believe he followed that," said Tom Manke, superintendent of Morton Middle School.
Manke fired him. But even though Moulton was convicted of fourth-degree assault, a judge ruled he couldn't be fired. So he'll be back at school next Monday.
But some parents don't want Moulton anywhere near their children.
"She is not going to his class. None of my kids are," said parent John Mitchell. "I have a 16-year-old son, and he is not going, either."
"A lot of my friends - except my friends who are boys - are saying they won't be there because of his action," said 13-year-old Renee Fisher.
The superintendent says 23 parents have asked to have their children pulled from Moulton's class.
"I don't know what's going to happen. The class could be very small, or there could be no kids there," Mitchell said.
The school district says any student who opts out of Moulton's class will be enrolled in an Internet alternative.
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