Twelve year old suspended, facing expulsion, for arguing with accused sexual harasser

Jim | California | Monday, April 18th, 2005

Teacher accused of more harassment

Updated 31 March 2005: Megan Camacho expelled, complaints of harassment discarded.

Updated 18 April 2005: Warren retires after being cleared by school. Details at bottom of post.

Seventh-grader Megan Camacho, a student at Ethel Kucera Middle School in the Rialto School District, got into an oral argument with her teacher George Warren. She was suspended and now faces an expulsion. Megan was fed up by a pattern of sexual harassment by Warren and lost her temper.

Since Megan’s accusation, other girls have come forward as well.

Megan said Warren also stared at girls’ chests and bare legs. Warren is on paid administrative leave while the Rialto Unified School District investigates the claims.

Lydia Garcia said Warren would whistle and howl at her 12-year-old daughter.

Carlos Yvonne Malone said her daughter was sexually harassed by Warren two years ago as an eighth-grade student at Kucera.

Malone said her daughter, now 15, complained about Warren’s behavior. Malone said Warren would rub her daughter’s shoulders and back, making the girl uncomfortable.

Malone said she spoke to Warren about his behavior and he stopped touching her daughter but continued his behavior with other girls in her class.


Accusing a teacher of sexual harassment is a very serious thing. A false allegation can completely destroy somebody’s career. The allegation immediately following an argument and scholastic punishment could be a spurious, revenge motivated action. However, with two other corroborating and unsolicited allegations being made there is simply no excuse for not taking them seriously. Instead, the school board is continuing its punishment program against Megan for her outburst at a teacher.

On Friday, Megan’s parents learned that district officials plan to expel the girl. The Rialto school board is scheduled to vote on the recommendation at Wednesday’s meeting.

Floyd Braggs, the district’s director of administrative services, said he could not comment on the sexual-harassment accusation against Warren. He did say that the recommendation to expel Megan was based on evidence provided.

“The panel listened to both sides equally and the student was given due process,’ Braggs said.

A panel of district administrators recommended expulsion, he said.

Why are they expelling Megan when they have not even determined if Warren is harassing his female students? Because it doesn’t matter. Even if it is conclusively shown that he was actively sexually harassing Megan her outburst was against the rules and there is no place for compassion, reason or mitigating circumstances under scholastic zero tolerance.

Contact Information:
Rialto School Board email addresses.
Ethel Kucera Principal Dave Price


UPDATE 31 March 2005

Decision to expel girl upsets mother

Megan Camacho has been expelled from her school and her harassment claim against Warren has been dismissed as having no merit.

Megan plans to attend another district school. She will be closely monitored. Megan can be removed from the district at any time if she behaves poorly. The expulsion will remain on her student record.

Syeda Jafri, a spokeswoman for the school district, said she could not comment on the accusations against Warren.

Jafri did say Warren remains on paid administrative leave because the district investigation has not been completed.

So the end result is a 12 year-old girl expelled for a single verbal argument with a teacher. Frightful.


UPDATE 18 April 2005

Teacher cleared of harassment retires

“We’re happy he retired,” said Lilian Camacho, [Megan’s] sister. “I wish he would have been found guilty, but we’re happy with him not teaching.”

The board approved Warren’s resignation Wednesday.

“We accepted Mr. Warren’s resignation for the purposes of retirement,” district spokeswoman Syeda Jafri said. “He will not be coming back.”

Bill Hedrick, president of the Rialto teachers union, made it clear that Warren had been cleared by the school board, had simply retired of his own choice and that the sexual harassment allegations had nothing to do with his decision.

And if you believe that I’ve got a lovely bridge in New York that I’d like to sell you.

(Tip credit to Tori in Texas)

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