Parents of bullied Gig Harbor teen take aim at teacher
»Play Video
GIG HARBOR, Wash. -- The shaky cell phone video that appears to show a teacher bullying his own middle school student made national headlines, but the fallout from the incident is hitting the victim's family very close to home.
At a Thursday night school meeting, that family took aim at the teacher accused of bullying their 13-year old son.
The boy's parents are struggling with emotions. They're frustrated at the school's response to the incident and sad for their son.
"I stand here as an advocate for my son," said Randall Kinney, the victim's father.
Randal Kinney spoke about what he saw on the video, which was filmed by students in early February at Kopachuck Middle School.
"Holding him down, pulling his underwear up, giving him wedgies, laughing at him, putting socks in his mouth," he said.
The family said they're disgusted that the teacher, John Rosi, initially only received a 10-day suspension for his actions.
"To me it was bullying and degradation of his character," Randal Kinney said. "Watching those videos was so painful for our family."
Other parents attended the meeting to show their support for the Kinney family, but no one spoke on Rosi's behalf. Despite that, Rosi's attorney said his client does have support within the community.
"I'm being overrun with people in support of this man," said Bryan Hershman. "He is a man I would trust with my life and the life of my children."
Hershman did admit that Rosi exercised poor judgment on the day the video was shot, but said the teacher is not a bully.
"You'll have to forgive me. That's ridiculous. He's a kid at heart," Hershman said.
The real kid in this story, the victim, is now in counseling and attending a private school.
Randall Kinney said his son told him he was getting bullied prior to February's incident, and he now regrets the advice he gave his boy.
"If they hit you, smile and walk away. Cry in private. And that was terrible advice, terrible advice," he said.
The school board urged the public not to rush to judgement and said they're waiting for the results of a sheriff's department investigation before they determine Rosi's future.
In addition to his 10-day suspension, Rosi was originally reassigned to another school. But after hearing from angry parents, the school district reversed its course and put the teacher on paid administrative leave.
At a Thursday night school meeting, that family took aim at the teacher accused of bullying their 13-year old son.
The boy's parents are struggling with emotions. They're frustrated at the school's response to the incident and sad for their son.
"I stand here as an advocate for my son," said Randall Kinney, the victim's father.
Randal Kinney spoke about what he saw on the video, which was filmed by students in early February at Kopachuck Middle School.
"Holding him down, pulling his underwear up, giving him wedgies, laughing at him, putting socks in his mouth," he said.
The family said they're disgusted that the teacher, John Rosi, initially only received a 10-day suspension for his actions.
"To me it was bullying and degradation of his character," Randal Kinney said. "Watching those videos was so painful for our family."
Other parents attended the meeting to show their support for the Kinney family, but no one spoke on Rosi's behalf. Despite that, Rosi's attorney said his client does have support within the community.
"I'm being overrun with people in support of this man," said Bryan Hershman. "He is a man I would trust with my life and the life of my children."
Hershman did admit that Rosi exercised poor judgment on the day the video was shot, but said the teacher is not a bully.
"You'll have to forgive me. That's ridiculous. He's a kid at heart," Hershman said.
The real kid in this story, the victim, is now in counseling and attending a private school.
Randall Kinney said his son told him he was getting bullied prior to February's incident, and he now regrets the advice he gave his boy.
"If they hit you, smile and walk away. Cry in private. And that was terrible advice, terrible advice," he said.
The school board urged the public not to rush to judgement and said they're waiting for the results of a sheriff's department investigation before they determine Rosi's future.
In addition to his 10-day suspension, Rosi was originally reassigned to another school. But after hearing from angry parents, the school district reversed its course and put the teacher on paid administrative leave.
Disgusting! Paid administrative leave? FIRE HIM
A "kid at heart"?The man should be fired, and his record should follow him wherever he goes.That anyone should defend his behavior - which was directed at a child in his care - also is unforgiveable.
There are many real teachers that need jobs, this joke of an human being can not be considered an teacher. He is an child abuser and should banned from any jobs that has to do with children.
I have thought about this bulling incident in Pierce County School Dis. since I saw it on last nights news,  and I am sickened to my core that anything like this would go on in FRONT of ANY adult let alone a TEACHER. How smart he must think he is that he was part of the group, keep him away from our children till he is either proven innocent or guilty.   The picture of that young man being tortured and yes that is just what it was is unbelievable to me. Yes the incident is under investigation , but the ease that the teacher showed when this was happening tells me this may not be the first time,  he just got caught on tape this time. And what about the other students that to part in this I would hope that they will be shown told how to treat another person(so sad). And then when the teachers lawyer was talked to he smirked and laughed how dare he this is a young man that has been treated less then you would an animal. I would only hope that this young man knows that people care about him (even if they don't know him) and that he is important to all of us with a heart.I care and I know many others care as well
From A Grandma with a heart.
This is an outrage. Â Not only did this scumbag teacher allow students to pull this poor kid around the room and subject him to humiliating abuse, but he also decides to take part in the bullying? Â This jerk deserves to be unemployed. Â Furthermore, the fellow students should have been suspended. Â I am so sad for this poor young man--I'm glad he has seemingly loving parents. Â I hope they can tell him that not everyone in the world thinks it's okay to treat other human beings this way. Â I'm not big on lawsuits, but this is one case where I wouldn't be upset if the parents sued the school and the teacher for creating such an abusive environment for their child and got a huge settlement. Â
The people who defended this teacher out to be ashamed of themselves.
*ought* not out--whoops!
There are too many people out there that are available for teaching positions to tolerate this crap. Try having someone put a sock in your mouth and tell me it's not harrassing. He's a kid at heart? To me that means he's too immature to have this position.  Grow up and face your responsibilites like a man.
This "Adult" is entrusted to teach children and to intercede to stop this from happening. Now, it is time for him to hide behind his union and lawyer and pretend like he is not a bully himself. The lowest form of society picks on the defenseless.
Rosi had been assigned to another school, but the parents of kids at that other school made sure that didn't happen. I'm expect the same would happen at any other school where Rosi was attempted to be placed. So long as the taxpayers are stuck supporting a teacher who they don't want in their schools, Rosi is collecting the salary of a potential new teacher. How long must this go on? Â
It was the teachers job to protect his students from bullying and instead he chose to engage in bullying, for that he deserves to lose his job and be banned from teaching, period.Â
Some kids who have been harassed by other students and have become so distressed , that they resolve the issues with deadly force . This is not uncommon when someone has been horribly humiliated in public. Let's just say Mr Rosi is very fortunate that this student is not one to get revenge in a KOMO4 school shooting kinda way. Children/ Teens will some times also use bad judgement to resolve a problem. Shame on you parents supporting this guy . This is condone his behavior. and marginalizes the victim. DISCUSTING!
There is NOTHING in this video that shows the teacher was in the right. I guess the kid was enjoying himself soooooo much he wanted to kill himself? Teachers should not be involved in horse play let alone let it happen. I can't wait to hear the other side of the story as to why this was allowed and participated in by the teacher. Makes no sense as of now. I have already jumped to my conclusion for now.
When you hear the teacher's story -- that he was a wrestling coach, that they had done lots of this horsing around -- that he thought everyone was enjoying -- that I also think we shouldn't rush to judgment that there was any bullying intent. I'm not saying that he should have allowed horseplay in the classroom - he maybe thought he was trying to connect with middle schoolers, I don't know -- I'm sure that many many disagree with my thoughts - but I just see how the teacher may not have realized how he was making the boy feel. I remember in 7th grade I had a math teacher. As a girl, I sometimes wore dresses, sometimes pants -- but I remember getting teased by my teacher quite a bit for awhile. I was small for my grade and he would lift me and my desk up and do push ups while I was in the desk among other things. This went on for quite a few weeks.  This embarrassed me a lot -- and he said other things that would embarrass me. But, then I just went up to him after class one day and told him this was making me uncomfortable and embarassed and I didn't want him to do it anymore. He was incredibly apologetic and didn't know it was making me feel this way, that he thought he was being  funny and had thought I had thought it was funny. He told me he'd  never do anything like that again and would never try to make me feel uncomfortable, and he never did. He was actually a very caring teacher and a great math teacher as far as teaching the material. I never did tell my parents, or someone else -- just the teacher -- It all worked out just fine. I realize this was a different kind of horsing around -- and this was a long time ago -- but I'm just trying to make a point that although it was wrong, he very well may not have realized how he was making the boy feel, or he wouldn't have done it
No amount of 'horseplay' should involve shoving something into another's mouth, no way, I don't care what he teaches. Does this then mean that wreastlers lack good judgement, I don't think so.
Â
@smc42 Thank you for sharing that with us , I can see how since you didn't put a stop to it right away he ( the teacher ) could have though it was ok. a little insensitive but , he sincerely apologized . But this poor kid was getting his socks stuffed in to his mouth and his underwear pulled up , that is a pain that I can't even describe so this Looks to be Quite malicious and I believe an assault on this young man body / Pride. But that just how it looks to me.
This comment has been deleted
@Tony Alvarez If some one uses the information that posted to harm this man or his family . I believe KOMO4 and you could be held liable . Very poor judgment in deed . Komo4 news would be wise to remove this post immediately
 @Tony Alvarez We have a thing in this country called innocent until proven guilty. If there were any crimes perpetuated against this teacher as a result of "Tony Alvarez" posting this information, they'd be complicit in the crime.Â
 @Tony Alvarez Posting the teachers home address and phone number is completely inappropriate and you should be ashamed. What the teacher did was wrong, but this is not right either, Two wrongs don't make a right. I have reported this to KOMO and I hope others do as well.
 @Tony Alvarez Please also note that in addition to flagging your comment as inappropriate I have also e-mailed KOMO's web team about it. If anything happens to this man because of your post, you deserve to be prosecuted just as much as Mr. Rosi does for what he did to his student. You are just as much of a bully as he is for making this post and encouraging people to harass him.
@Tony Alvarez Can we get your info too?Â
 @Tony Alvarez I don't think that is appropriate to be posting.Â
If the punishment for student bullying is expulsion from school, this teacher's punishment should be "expelled" from this school. Jerry Sandusky tried that defense too (I was just horsing around, I'm just a big kid), didn't buy it from him, not buying it from this guy.
Immature is right, very much...why are you a teacher telling him that. He is a BULLY giving that advice!!!
I think the article says the advice was given by the kids' father in regards to bullying -- not by the teacher...so not sure why you are saying the father was a bully?
If this were adults, they would be charged with assault. We won't stop school bullying until we start handling cases like this in a similar manner.
Â
HallandOates: Oh, yes. It does make sense. I quit the boy scouts because the leaders thought that learning to be a man meant to handle yourself in a fight. It didn't matter the difference in size between the boys. I left with a broken arm.
This teacher is immature and has no business being a teacher. He also needs to receive counseling, you should not be an adult and acting like a child.
This type of behavior is not even allowed for a child, bullying should never be accepted. This teacher needs to complete a Behavioral class, and his so-call attorney needs to attend with him (giggling, because this is such a joke behavior). This is not just bullying, it is terrorizing and tormenting someone.
This teacher is a disgrace. The fact that he not only allowed but participated in this behavior tells me that he does not have the mentality or maturity to be able to handle this position. His teaching license should be revoked. There is no excuse for what he did. I know some people think he should go through training, etc., but when it comes down to it, integrity and common sense can't be taught. You either have it or you don't.
Â
I'm wondering if there is more to the story than is being told. Was they all just playing around which the teacher took part in? Is there a witch hunt by the parents? Something about this story just doesn't make sense.Â
Teachers who are "a kid at heart" need to be aware of the book Lord of the Flies...an adult in a teaching position has to take their responsibility seriously enough to prevent such things from happening and stop the bully kids immediately- not participate in the bullying.
sorry, people don't /can't read anymore.
It's so frustrating to see the teacher in Olympia get fired from one of his coaching positions because of an incident he wasn't even around for but reported immediately when he found out while this jack-off get's a 10 day suspension and then paid leave.
Â
BULLSHIZNIT!
 @Tattooed_Angel Excellent point. How poorly each case was handled is appalling enough on its own â contrasting them like you just did makes each 10x worse!Â
So the POS teacher bully is getting a paid vacation? Great, just great. I sure hope the police investigation doesn't take too long to finish. This POS needs to be fired!
The days of having fun are over for kids. They are being programmed to be device using robots. They have chosen to ignore the other children in this case. Pretty sad.
 @Klondiko Doesn't look like the little boy getting wedgies, socks in the mouth, and a grown man pretending to fart on him was having any fun. There is an antiquated idea of fun that involves a group of kids picking on one. Anyone lamenting the loss of the good old days when you could get away with this crap has failed to evolve.
He's a kid at heat? Â He's the ADULT, the adult who is PAID to protect kids, not participate in the 'fun.' Â OMG, I cannot even believe people would defend what he did, saying it was a lapse in judgement or whatever. Â If he did that to his own kid, CPS would be all over it. Â Now the parents feel they have to put their child in private school and some attorney is boo-hooing that his client is being treated unfairly. Â Shaking my head........
This video is sickening. Shame on the teacher for not doing his job, shame on the school district for not taking appropriate action and shame on all the bullies for what they did to that poor boy. Hopefully the parents of the attackers will have the proper parenting skills to be sure their kids understand exactly what they did to that boy and the long-term impact that it will probably have on him. It's a good thing it was recorded to identify the people involved.
Wow, I wonder what this teacher does to his own kid, if he has one. Regardless if the victim is acting up or not (didn't say this is the case, because I don't know, but to me, does not look like this kid is acting up), "the teacher" can call school security for help. Oh, bet "this teacher" can't explain away why a sock is in this kid's mouth, and it is allowed to happen. I feel sick watching this video, and I hope this teacher have fun with his (giggling) attorney's child (giggling again, because this attorney thinks this is a joke). I hope they pass a law that requires teachers' disciplinary records be required to be known to schools and parents, so bad teachers can't just pack up and go terrorize another school. Talk about bullying, it is sick the teacher watched, but he PARTICIPATED.
It's only horseplay if the Kid was having fun. Â He didn't seem to be enjoying himself at all. Â I have little doubt the teacher thought they were all having fun, but that was horrible judgement.Â
They need to fire the teacher and ban him from teaching at any school as well as charge him with child endangerment and abuse.
 @Thebigbadwolf While I agree that we should not rush to judgement it is imperative that if he is found to warrant discipline, and the video makes it pretty clear this is the case, then the school should take firm action. This guy shouldn't be able to hide behind a union or something to get out of the situation.
What's the school board waiting for? Â The video isn't enough evidence?
i'm curious as to the teachers' union view on this incident.
Â
the guy is way out of bounds and beyond inappropriate, he is actively engaged in the situation. ignoring it would be bad enough, but he was in the mix, having a great old time. probably felt like The Man with all those little kids thinking he's cool.....lol. hate to be one of those "if that was my kid.." people, but ahem, if that was my kid, i'd be so sad and angry - it would be very hard to remain calm and peaceful if i saw that teacher.
Â
what were they supposed to be learning at this moment anyway? i can't recall any classroom i've ever been in culminating in a chaotic heap of chairs and whatever.
Â
sad and pathetic. very underwelming response by the school.
Come on now northwest sheeple Teachers Union needs a shout out for their outstanding work in saving jobs for dead beat teachers..
 @Windowseat off topic, and I'll give it a 2.0 for pot-stirring and name calling. Come on, you can do better.
..and people wonder why kids shoot their teachers....
Now that I've seen more of the video taken, although not all of it, I can say that it seem Mr Rosi need not be a teacher any longer and he shouldn't be on paid leave. In the last article, I advocated that there was more to the story, and now we know what that is. Sadly, I was given the same advice in school, but I was never physically bullied like this boy. I hope the Pierce Country Sheriff hurry with the investigation so that this can be properly taken care of.
 @Rema Cyphers Do mean your parents taught you to "smile and walk away" when someone hits/bullies you??! Obviously nothing mitigates what this idiot teacher did, but the boy's father did him a horrible disservice teaching him to let people beat on him unchallenged.
Disgusting advice for school as well as life! However, I'm very glad to read that you weren't bullied, at least not this badly.Â
I can't believe he didn't get fired.  Students are held to a ridiculous zero tolerance threshold but teachers are above it.  What if this was a 13 year old girl, would we look at it differently?  Either way, a teacher does this to my 13 year old kid he better be prepared to man up and face me, something tells me he wouldn't have it in him!