Student, city argue in lawsuit over teacher's 'black sheep' comment

The Mainichi Shimbun
December 13, 2006
Source: http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20061213p2a00m0na015000c.html

The teacher's "black sheep" comment is pictured in the student's graduation album, with "flock" misspelled as "frock."

SHIZUOKA -- A 17-year-old girl upset over a saying about "black sheep" that her former junior high school teacher wrote in her graduation album argued that the local government bore responsibility for the teacher's actions as a hearing opened at a court here on Wednesday.

The girl, whose name has been withheld, is demanding 16.5 million yen in compensation from the Shizuoka Municipal Government, claiming that it failed to prevent the teacher from violating her educational rights.

During the initial round of oral proceedings at the Shizuoka District Court, the city asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, indicating it was prepared to fight the claims.

According to the suit, the teacher wrote the English saying, "There is a black sheep in every flock," in the student's graduation album in March last year, hurting her feelings. "Flock" was misspelled as "frock."

The teacher also allegedly slandered her and hit her on the head immediately after she entered the school on the grounds that her older brother had high-functioning autism. From the following day, he allegedly ordered her to study alone in a meeting room.

The teacher reportedly told the girl's classmates, "She's disabled, so don't hang out with her." Up until her graduation, the girl had no option but to study by herself in a separate room, according to the lawsuit.

The teacher resigned in May last year, but has reportedly not apologized to the girl. (Mainichi)

December 13, 2006