Parents claim teacher "silences" child on hunting

BENNINGTON, Vt.—A North Bennington couple is complaining to school officials that they felt compelled to withdraw their son from fourth grade for the final 10 days of the school year after his teacher "silenced" him for talking about hunting.

Wendy Bordwell and Martin Harrington complained to the School Board about actions they say teacher Kathleen Backus took when she heard their son, Jared Harrington, talking to a classmate during a snack break about the spring turkey hunting season.

"Jared's teacher covered her ears, trying to block the conversation, and singing 'la la la la.' When asked by another school employee about her odd behavior, the teacher claimed she did not want to hear about the boys and their 'killing.' The boys were left feeling that they were not legitimate hunters, but 'killers' in the eyes of an important authority figure in their lives," Bordwell said.

"I believe that Ms. Backus' perception of hunting and hunters have led her to treat Jared in an inappropriate manner, singling him out unfairly," she told the board.

A home telephone number for Backus could not be found; a message left for her at the school, which has been dismissed for the summer, was not immediately returned.

Her husband approached the teacher about the "reprimand" of their son, Bordwell said.

"The confrontation ended with Ms. Backus demanding that Marty leave the classroom, screeching, 'I went hiking this weekend and saw a moose and a bear, and I will never tell you where they are because you might kill them," Bordwell said.

School Principal Thomas Martin said he thinks school officials "can reach a reasonable understanding" among the parties involved in the matter.

"It's not a huge issue," Martin said. "Marty is a good kid and Kathleen is a good teacher. The focus is on the kid. We want to try to meet his needs. Kathy cares a great deal about kids. She's troubled a great deal about this."

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Information from: Rutland Herald, http://www.rutlandherald.com/