KIMA fights for answers in Sunnyside teacher investigation
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SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- KIMA is still following up on the investigation of two high school teachers in Sunnyside. For two months, Action News has worked all angles and filed public records requests to uncover exactly what is going on in your student's classrooms.
"If you guys don't look into this," said Sunnyside man Greg Flocchini. "Who will? Who's going to dig into this and find the culprit? Who's going to find out why this is being allowed?"
The Teacher's Union even filed a lawsuit against KIMA and the school district to block the release of information about what happened inside the classrooms of teachers Maria Preston and Sacha Mike.
KIMA has confirmed the district reprimanded Preston for giving sexually-explicit poems to her students. KIMA also learned that Preston has filed a grievance citing her first amendment rights.
Ms. Mike was also reprimanded for an explained reason. We do know students in her mythology class complained about being taught sexual things.
"I think the teachers shouldn't even be allowed to teach because if they've done it once, they can do it again," said former student, Estella Patterson.
Not only is Elidia a Sunnyside High School graduate, she is actually a former fan of the teachers.
"Just would have never thought she would do something like this," said Elidia.
While the district determines if further punishment is appropriate, people we showed the poems to were outraged.
To get all sides KIMA reached out to Sunnyside School District and the Teacher's Union but no one wants to comment.
WARNING: Graphic material | Here are links to three of the poems the teachers allegedly assigned:
Jerral Campfield a citizen of the Yakima Valley is not surprised for we have failed to discipline children and are now not able to disciple adults that show didain for evil. The Administration is supposed to be in control of what is being taught in their School system and this is a total disdain for honesty, justice, purity, holiness, truth and everything that is destroying society. They need to be removed quickly for the evidence is now public and sickening to morality. Thank the Lord for decency and we need to make sure we become blest, not cursing one another, especially our youth of the Valley. Lets get on the Sunnyside of life and teach our youth how to achieve their potential not become animalistic. Thanks KIMA for doing a job of reporting news that affect all of society. www.2forgive.org
I for one appreciate your due diligence in this matter. This is one of the reasons people are getting fed up with Unions.This blind loyalty even in the face of what is absolutely wrong. So they try to silence the truth. Last I checked we the tax payers are paying for everything in that classroom and school district. Nothing should be withhed from the public regarding this information that was shared to our children.If they are so proud of the teachers maybe they should stop trying to hide the truth. KIMA is there a way you can share the Teachers Union contact information???? I for one as a taxpayer would like to know exactly what in the heck are they thinking? This Union thinks these teachers reckless behaviour is above the safety of our children. These teachers should be fully investigated for prior behaviour. WHAT IF they are pedophiles?
If those teachers get a job around my children, or are allowed in our school, your going to get a lawsuit, guaranteed.
I am not going to say what they taught students was right or wrong but there is an important thing to note on one aspect. According to the article "We do know students in her mythology class complained about being taught sexual things" and all I have to say is duh. Greek mythology is what the majority of high school students learn about. If you have ever heard any of the stories surrounding Zeus you wouldn't even question the fact there are "sexual things" being taught.Â
Also, the link to Lilith does not go to a poem. It goes to mythological information about the demon Lilith. Information that is less graphic than anything on Zeus. Â
OMG !!!     They should be FIRED and never teach again !!!  They did stepped over their boundaries. The parnets at Sunnyside High School should take thier Kids out until they are FIRED !!!!!
Heck no, they should loose their jobs and have clearly overstepped their teaching boundaries.