Minford parents are planning what they call a “peaceful protest” against what they say is a culture of teachers bullying students in the school system. The protest is scheduled for 7:45 am on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the main entrance to the middle school. The protest is timed to coincide with teacher and coach Lori Rolfe’s appearance in Portsmouth Municipal Court for a pretrial hearing on an assault charge.
The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office charged Mrs. Rolfe with assault following an incident at a volleyball game when she was allegedly caught on video pulling a student around by her hair. Rolfe has been previously investigated on charges of bullying students.
Parents told us about other incidents of children experiencing bullying at the hands of teachers, and one told us a child had even attempted suicide from the trauma. “The bullying starts with the teachers in this school. Minford is supposed to have a no tolerance for bullying but they can’t be enforced or encouraged if the teachers are doing it and the students see it. ou expect your kids to be treated with love not abuse at school. Some kids come home to abuse. Where is their safe haven if they are being abused at school as well by the adults?”
Organizers encouraged participants to make positive signs in support of students. “We will have candles lit for the lives lost to suicide in this district.”