Girl Says Teacher Duct Taped Her Mouth

HARRIBSURG, Pa. -- An 8-year-old Harrisburg girl said her teacher duct taped her mouth shut to keep her quiet.

Hope Wade is in second grade at Downey Elementary School, in the Harrisburg School District.

The girl's mother, Shannon Wade, said she is furious. She has pulled her daughter out of school until the investigation is over.

"My child is traumatized. She doesn't want to go to school. She loves school and now she doesn't want to go," Shannon Wade said.

When the 8-year-old came home from school Thursday, her mother said she could tell something was wrong.

"One of the students asked her a question. She replied and the teacher told her to stop talking. Then she walked over and put tape over her mouth," Shannon Wade said.

The second-grader said the teacher used duct tape, and made her leave it there until she was finished talking to the class.

"You're working, and you come home to find out your child's been basically abused in school. If it had been me who duct taped her mouth shut, they would've called Child and Youth Services, and I would've been escorted out in cuffs," Shannon Wade said.

Shannon Wade demanded her daughter be taken out of the class, but said the district refused. When her daughter went to school Friday, the teacher was still on the job.

"I wasn't given any apologies. The school district hasn't sent me any letters. Nothing! It's like they don't care," Shanon Wade said.

The school district officials said they are taking this very seriously and investigating the matter.

"The teacher involved in the alleged incident ... has not been in the classroom since ... immediate action was taken by the Harrisburg School District," according to a statement released by the school district.

Officials refused to comment more, saying that the teacher is still employed at the school and they cannot discuss personnel matters.

Shannon Wade said she's planning to sue.