Thursday, January 26, 2006
Father of the Year
I don't think this father did the right thing, but even if it is not right, it needs to happen more frequently. Just my opinion.

Dad punches out teacher's aide
accused of molesting daughter
By MITCH STACY Associated Press
Posted January 25 2006, 3:00 PM EST

TAMPA -- An angry father who marched into a classroom and punched a teacher's assistant in the face said Wednesday he was protecting his 15-year-old daughter, who had accused the man of inappropriately touching her.Dave F. Swafford, 42, was charged with felony battery on a school employee after he hit the 35-year-old aide in front of a class full of students at Lakewood Ranch High School near Bradenton Tuesday morning, authorities said. He was also named "Father of the Year'' by a local radio station for his actions.

"I'm not real proud of what I did,'' Swafford told The Associated Press Wednesday. "You have to protect your children, and my daughter does not lie to me.''

Because of the allegation, the school placed the assistant on paid leave Tuesday, school district spokeswoman Margi Nanney said. He has not been charged, but Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bristow said deputies are investigating.The man has been employed by the Manatee County school district since 1999 and has a clean personnel record, Nanney said. His primary job is 'time-out'' teacher,' overseeing in-school suspension. His name is being withheld by the AP because he has not been charged.Swafford, the part owner of an air conditioning company, said he came to the school to meet with officials about allegations made by his daughter and other female students about the assistant's inappropriate touching and conduct. When he saw that the man was not in the meeting, he asked his daughter to take him to the classroom.``I wanted to know why the guy was in a classroom teaching after my daughter came forward,'' he said.A verbal exchange became heated, and "I lost control,'' he said. He spent about 10 hours in jail and got out later Tuesday after posting bond.The Tampa radio station that named him "Father of the Year'' offered him and his family tickets for the Daytona 500 race."If some other parents would do this, maybe some of these pedophiles would crawl back under rocks where they belong,'' Swafford said.

9 comments:

Blogger Phred said...

He has my vote for '' Father of the Year''

Blogger Unknown said...

The school said that they have the teacher aide on video being in the opposite side of the school at the same time that the girl said he was molesting her. I do not know the truth, but should we put total faith in a 16 year old girl? We should consider the fact that the teacher could have been wrongly accused by a spiteful or attention wanting girl. Keep an open mind. Good post.

Blogger Queen Bee said...

He has my vote too for "Father of the Year" :)

Blogger web_loafer said...

The thing I got from all of this is that the father was angry that the school would not even address the problem, be it true or false.
When someone makes an accusation like this, the school should not ignore the parents. I am afraid it is going to take a lot of vigalante action to put the fear into pedophiles and perverts who should not be allowed to mingle with society, at all.
They should all be in jail, forever, no parole.

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow. Vigalante justice does not work in a free society. Interesting post, but the father handled the situation quite unwisely. Now we're talking about HIS behavior rather than the allegations against the assistant. The father has earned his day in court with his actions. Will the assistant be charged and earn his?

Blogger Jay said...

I guess if the teacher turns out to be innocent (which in some countries is assumed) the father would have a red face and say something profound like "oops".

Blogger web_loafer said...

I would never take part in, or condone vigilante justice. I do see the possibility of it becoming more and more prevalent, if those that prey on the weak are not stopped by law enforcement and THE COURTS.
And unforunetly most school systems seem to be a little too secretive, they need to be more transparent. A pediphile has no right to teach children. They must be found, exposed and tracked. People must have the right to know where they are. This sounds almost like cruel and unusual punishment, if so, it still is the only way we can protect the helpless.
No, I won't join in the vigilante justice, and hope it doesn't happen.

Blogger web_loafer said...

I would never take part in, or condone vigilante justice. I do see the possibility of it becoming more and more prevalent, if those that prey on the weak are not stopped by law enforcement and THE COURTS.
And unforunetly most school systems seem to be a little too secretive, they need to be more transparent. A pediphile has no right to teach children. They must be found, exposed and tracked. People must have the right to know where they are. This sounds almost like cruel and unusual punishment, if so, it still is the only way we can protect the helpless.
No, I won't join in the vigilante justice, and hope it doesn't happen.

Blogger Ogre said...

I like vigilante justice -- but you have to be sure. There's too much in question so far here to support the father, but I can certainly imagine how he feels. If it turns out he's right, I say give him another 30 minutes in a room with the pedophile.

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