June 20, 2008

"This teacher has a history of encouraging noogie behavior."

"She had this very bizarre tendency to invite students to give her noogies."

That's Edward Paltzik, lawyer for Ethan Mirenberg, who was given a 10-month suspension for giving his high school teacher noogies. Now, he also has a big Daily News article making light of his physical assault on the teacher — who is referred to as "the 39-year-old divorcee." Why does her marital status matter? We're also told she lives in a "luxury apartment"! The boy is referred to — in the headline — as an "honor student."

Ethan, 14, is 5-feet-3 and 150 pounds, and the teacher, Sharon Cantante, is only 4'11". Somehow, this tiny woman was just asking for disrespect and physical assault, the courts ought to prevent schools from doing anything about it, and newspapers should make light of it. The Daily News has a cutesy poll to signal to readers to laugh and think the boy a victim of injustice.

Nice job letting a lawyer play you, Daily News.




18 comments:

rhhardin said...

I don't even know what a noogie is.

rhhardin said...

the 39-year-old divorcee." Why does her marital status matter?

It selects the narrative, in particular female innocence is not a presumption.

Ann Althouse said...

It's not the same thing as nookie.

Ann Althouse said...

rh, yeah, which is why I used the "asking for it" concept.

MadisonMan said...

There's a facebook group to free him.

If I were the parent, I'd forbid the lawyer from talking to the press. I read the story and assume that the parents are idiots and coddlers who think their darling can do no wrong. I wonder if that is their intention.

Anonymous said...

At 5'3" and 130 lbs. that kid is fat.

MadisonMan said...

Yes, there's a picture of him on facebook. I'm sure he's wearing Husky sized Rufskins from Sears.

Skeptical said...

Toughskins, MM! Toughskins!

MadisonMan said...

(laugh) Yeah, rufskins are apparently something entirely different.

George M. Spencer said...

In my high school geometry class, if you got an answer wrong, the teacher would pick another student to punch you on the arm as hard as he wished.

But if that student got the next question wrong, you--or another student--got to smack him back.

The teacher also took donations for martinis.

He was the best.

Spread Eagle said...

I'm siding with the side that says the kid got hosed. To the extent there's a perp here, all in all the teacher is predominantly it. Wouldn't say that but for that picture.

Jeremy said...

I had to Google "Purple Nurple"

former law student said...

A noogie could be affectionate, or it could be painful. But if the teacher did not set boundaries at the outset, she's at least partially responsible.

Growing up, I don't think I ever touched a teacher, not even to shake hands.

Joe said...

The teacher probably thought she was being cute and "connecting" with the kids. It went to far. Both sides should get over it, but especially the alleged grown up in the matter.

(Even as a wee child, I never understood the point of the noogie. Still don't.)

Bissage said...

Two attacks on a teacher? The first after an order to stop? The second with a gang after hours on a teacher alone in her classroom?

The best that can be possibly said for that honors student is he’s about as bright as Hugo the Abominable Snowman.

I wonder if that ten month suspension reflects a discount for the he-thought-she’d-like-it factor.

Oh boy! A little bunny rabbit! Just what I always wanted! I will name him George, and I will hug him and pet him!

blake said...

I'm just glad it's not a rape story.

IgnatzEsq said...

My favorite had to be the Indian Burn. Though we called them snake bites.

Steven said...

The once is, possibly, a misunderstanding. The second time? There shouldn't be a suspension; there should be an expulsion and time in juvie.