According to North Penn authorities, the photo shows a teacher pasting a mask on a student’s face. A Montgomery County school system has issued a statement in response to a photo purportedly showing a school staffer pasting a mask to a student’s face. North Penn School District issued a statement in reaction to the images, confirming that the incident occurred at one of their campuses. They claim the shot was taken last week, although it is unclear who took it or how it ended up on social media. The district has also not verified which of its schools was involved in the incident, although parents told FOX 29 that it occurred at Pennfield Middle School.
According to the district’s statement, the photo does not represent the universal principles that the district strives to foster in students and employees. According to school administrators, the event was quickly examined, and “no malice was meant.” “The teacher’s behaviors were absolutely improper and reprehensible, regardless of the setting,” the statement states. “We recognize that putting a mask over a student’s face hurts many people, and we sincerely regret this incident.” At a regularly scheduled school board meeting Thursday night, district parents spoke out on the issue. The school board apologized for the incident and delivered a statement from the mother of the student shown in the photo released by NorthPennNow.com. Jennifer Joyce of FOX 29 met with a district parent who manages the ‘North Penn Stronger Together’ Facebook group. She claims the image was first placed in the group to garner support and to urge the district to take action. While she admits she did not anticipate it to become viral, she understands why it had such an impact on so many people.
The district claims that the issue is being discussed with the employee, but all personnel and student problems are kept secret, therefore no additional information can be supplied. Masks are needed to be worn by students, employees, and school guests when indoors ‘during high levels of community transmission,’ according to a November update on the district’s website.
The District’s Complete Statement Is Available Below:
“A photograph taken in one of our classrooms last week and widely circulated on social media does not reflect the universal values that the North Penn School District attempts to promote in both our students and staff. Following an urgent review, it was decided that, while the occurrence was isolated and no malice was meant, the teacher’s actions were completely improper and unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances. We appreciate that strapping a mask to a student’s face is upsetting to many people, and we apologize that it happened. The situation is severe, and the employee is being handled. All staff and student affairs, however, are strictly secret, and no additional information may be supplied.”