Teacher Who Bullied Special Needs Student Faces Disciplinary Action
Nov. 17, 2011— -- A New Jersey teacher caught belittling a special-needs student on tape, now faces disciplinary action, the school district superintendent told ABCNews.com today.
On the tape, teacher Steven Roth can be heard calling 15-year-old student Julio Artuz a "tard" and saying "I will kick your a** from here to kingdom come." Julio filmed the incident on his cell phone during class.
After an executive session held Wednesday, "the Board of Education voted to enact disciplinary action against the teacher," Gloucester County Special Services District Superintendent Michael Dicken said.
Roth, who was identified by Artuz's family, is currently on paid administrative leave from Bankbridge Regional School in Gloucester County, N.J.
"We are following the statutes of the state of New Jersey," school board member Leona Mather told ABCNews.com. "When something like this comes up, believe me, we take this very, very seriously."
The teacher will be notified about the school board's decision by their attorney, Mather said.
"We did say to please make this happen today," she added.
Until then, superintendent Dicken says the board cannot comment on what specific disciplinary action they are taking.
Roth could not be reached for comment by ABCNews.com.
The incident has tarnished the school district, Mather said.
"It's not an easy thing for the board to see," she said. "We pride ourselves in the education of special needs children. We have a superb teaching staff, we have public recognition all the time. It's a wonderful district, I'm very proud to be associated with it."
Student Julio Artuz Belittled in Class
When Julio told his parents he was being bullied by his special-needs teacher, they were initially skeptical.
"Any kid exaggerates," said his mother, Joyce McCormick-Artuz. "It's normal adolescent behavior."
Her son, who has ADHD and emotional issues, had been complaining since the beginning of the school year that his teacher was bullying him, she said. So Julio's father finally asked for proof.
"I told him, 'If this happens again, I give you permission to take your cell phone to school and videotape it,'" said Julio Artuz, who shares the same name as his son.
On Oct. 24, the younger Julio did just that.
On the video, Julio asked the teacher several time to stop calling him "special," provoking an outburst from Roth.
"It all started because my son questioned why [the teacher] was telling [another kid in class] to quit school," said McCormick-Artuz.
Roth responded, "What? Oh my God. F***ing-- ... What does the title on the front of that school say? 'Special education.'"
"Don't call me special," Julio said again.
"What would you like me to call you, Jules?"
"Normal! Just don't call me special," Julio said.
"Tard," Roth responded. "You want me to call you normal and you don't even know what it is!"
Artuz's mother, McCormick-Artuz, told ABC News she is "appalled" after watching the footage.
"Teachers are supposed to build students up and build their self esteem, not rip it down," she said. "You don't scream at them ... degrade and threaten."
During the video, which lasts nearly 10 minutes, the teacher also seemingly resorts to physical intimidation, walking up to Artuz and standing directly in front of him.
"You said when you get out of school you're going to do something," Roth said. "What are you going to do?"
"No, I didn't. Get out of my face!" Julio said.
"You didn't say that?" Roth asked. "You didn't say when you get out of school you're going to do something?"
Julio answered: "I said when I get out of this school -- what you going to say then?"
"There ain't going to be nothing you're going to ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever do," said Roth.
Artuz, Julio's father, told ABCNews.com the teacher assumed his son was making a threat. In reality, he said, the boy was referring to the day when he would attend a "normal" high school, instead of one that caters to special-needs students.
"I will kick your a** from here to kingdom come until I'm 80 years old. You'll never be able to beat me, dude," Roth said. "What are you going to do? Get a chopper and chop me?"
At one point, the teacher asked Julio, "Who cares that you're special?"
"No one," Julio replied quietly.
"Nobody, dude," the teacher affirmed.
Roth has been at the school for eight years, according to Julio's mother
"I'm just appalled," said McCormick-Artuz. "I'm sickened and appalled."
