Caldicot teacher suspended amid inquiry into Harlem Shake video

10:30am Monday 4th March 2013 in News

 A TEACHER has been suspended from a Gwent school after the council launched an investigation about his conduct in a video posted online.

A 34-second video, believed to be a take on the latest internet sensation the Harlem Shake, is understood to have been filmed at Caldicot Comprehensive School.

It was posted on video sharing website You Tube on February 20, but has since been removed.

Monmouthshire council said it was investigating reports a member of staff behaved in an unacceptable way when pupils were on their break.

Initially, the authority claimed the teacher had been suspended pending an investigation into a breach of the school’s social media policy.

But later a spokeswoman told the Argus: “One of our schools is investigating reports that a member of staff behaved in an unacceptable way.

“While we look into this, we’re not able to discuss the detail, to be fair to the teacher involved.

“It seems that the incident may have been filmed on a mobile phone by pupils and if this is the case, the footage will help with our investigations. The teacher has been suspended until we have examined the circumstances and if he is found to have broken the school’s disciplinary policy, action will be taken.”

Students have taken to Twitter calling for the teacher to be reinstated, with talk of organising a protest.

The matter has not been reported to the General Teaching Council for Wales.

The Harlem Shake is the latest craze to dominate social media and typically sees people dancing erratically to the song of the same name, by DJ and producer Baauer.

Videos have been posted by a number of Gwent organisations including South Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff and

Comments(46)

county mad says...
11:53am Mon 4 Mar 13

FGS a short video of someone dancing and it leads to this. What about the abuse drug taking criminal behavior etc ,obviously not as important as to warrant the councils time. A sense of proportion and a big dollop of common sense would help no end

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jo_les66 says...
11:57am Mon 4 Mar 13

How Pathetic, its just a bit of fun, all the kids are doing it, its not hurting anyone, Shame On You, your going to make Teachers be afraid of having any fun with pupils....and well done Pupils of Caldicot Comp, Stand by your Teacher and support them any way possible.

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amandaajd1 says...
1:37pm Mon 4 Mar 13

jo_les66 wrote:
How Pathetic, its just a bit of fun, all the kids are doing it, its not hurting anyone, Shame On You, your going to make Teachers be afraid of having any fun with pupils....and well done Pupils of Caldicot Comp, Stand by your Teacher and support them any way possible.
Totally agree, it's a bit of fun, and credit to the students by standing by his side....what is this world becoming....pathetic
...it's nice to see a teacher has a sense of humour and gets on with the pupils, The pupils will respect him more...

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Dai Rear says...
1:50pm Mon 4 Mar 13

"The teacher has been suspended until we have examined the circumstances"
Well that'll be now, won't it? Because these big factory comps have headmasters who don't teach so the headmaster has looked at this video a couple of times this morning and can say "sack him" or "back to work at 2pm, matey"
If that teacher is still suspended without a decision being taken by the grotesquely overpaid clerks at Mon HQ by 12 noon tomorrow-it always takes longer for the incompetent to make up their minds-then let those clerks pay his wages, not us.

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real_life says...
3:17pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Dai Rear wrote:
"The teacher has been suspended until we have examined the circumstances"
Well that'll be now, won't it? Because these big factory comps have headmasters who don't teach so the headmaster has looked at this video a couple of times this morning and can say "sack him" or "back to work at 2pm, matey"
If that teacher is still suspended without a decision being taken by the grotesquely overpaid clerks at Mon HQ by 12 noon tomorrow-it always takes longer for the incompetent to make up their minds-then let those clerks pay his wages, not us.
Before anyone starts accusing people of taking things too far or being OTT, best wait for the full report to come out.
Sure you will find that there is a lot more to this than meets the eye that wouldn't warrant the comments already made.
Just put a little trust in people rather than jumping to conclusions about jobsworths and spoilers of fun etc.

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On the inside says...
3:18pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Dai Rear wrote:
"The teacher has been suspended until we have examined the circumstances" Well that'll be now, won't it? Because these big factory comps have headmasters who don't teach so the headmaster has looked at this video a couple of times this morning and can say "sack him" or "back to work at 2pm, matey" If that teacher is still suspended without a decision being taken by the grotesquely overpaid clerks at Mon HQ by 12 noon tomorrow-it always takes longer for the incompetent to make up their minds-then let those clerks pay his wages, not us.
Fool. MCC have no authority in employment matters it is the school Govenors.

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Goldy_Lookin_Clart says...
4:33pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Ahhhhh so the teacher was filmed dancing with the pupils and he posted it on You Tube.
He is a very silly man if he did that as he has used his pupils in a media posting which breaches child protection guidelines. On the other hand, if the pupils posted it, they would get a wagging finger of "dont do it again", a very silly man if this is all its about.

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flick711 says...
4:59pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Unless you have seen the video, you cannot judge. I have seen it an it went far beyond "silly dancing"! It really was inappropriate - hence the reaction!

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JamesMufc14 says...
5:19pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Actually a pupil uploaded the video.

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flick711 says...
5:35pm Mon 4 Mar 13

JamesMufc14 wrote:
Actually a pupil uploaded the video.
Even if that was the case, "it" still happened!

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Goldy_Lookin_Clart says...
5:46pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Flick, spill the beans like. Was there a lot of giration of da hips gangam style?
For us who cannot view it like, how about a written transcript of said event. In the interests of a story like.

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flick711 says...
5:56pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Haha goldy!! I wouldn't dare!!

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displayed says...
7:05pm Mon 4 Mar 13

These "shuffle videos" clearly show and promote a flagrant loss of control, inhibition and teach moral decadence by people old enuff to know better.

In this case for a teacher charged with creating and molding young impressionable students, he has clearly failed in his chosen career!

The consequences of which will follow him everywhere!

Not a wise move!

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nikkie1974 says...
8:09pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Can somebody please explain what the crime is here? Surely it is better for the kids to feel safe and secure with their teachers to the point that they can do a silly dance with one of them for the whole of 2 mins, rather than running around Caldicot causing untold chaos?! I think the school should open their eyes and realise that these kids are the future of the school and to take this any further would be risking the kids doing something awful. Obviously this teacher is thought of very highly and I hope he knows just how much the kids want him back. The whole situation is people in power gone mad !!!

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Mervyn James says...
8:16pm Mon 4 Mar 13

amandaajd1 wrote:
jo_les66 wrote:
How Pathetic, its just a bit of fun, all the kids are doing it, its not hurting anyone, Shame On You, your going to make Teachers be afraid of having any fun with pupils....and well done Pupils of Caldicot Comp, Stand by your Teacher and support them any way possible.
Totally agree, it's a bit of fun, and credit to the students by standing by his side....what is this world becoming....pathetic

...it's nice to see a teacher has a sense of humour and gets on with the pupils, The pupils will respect him more...
I thought school was about learning, my mistake ..... that bit of fun was done in school hours, if we did that at work we would be collecting our P45s..... teacher was stupid, they get enough criticism as it is, now they demand it.

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ShockWave says...
9:00pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Teachers should be ruling with a iron fist, not making fools of themselves and trying to be cool with the kids. They should be feared by the students. It's the only way to bring order and discipline back into schools and society!!!

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flick711 says...
9:27pm Mon 4 Mar 13

nikkie1974 wrote:
Can somebody please explain what the crime is here? Surely it is better for the kids to feel safe and secure with their teachers to the point that they can do a silly dance with one of them for the whole of 2 mins, rather than running around Caldicot causing untold chaos?! I think the school should open their eyes and realise that these kids are the future of the school and to take this any further would be risking the kids doing something awful. Obviously this teacher is thought of very highly and I hope he knows just how much the kids want him back. The whole situation is people in power gone mad !!!
So if they're not allowed to do a silly dance with their teacher they will cause "untold chaos" and if the school takes things further they will be "risking the kids doing something awful"?? Really?? Think you've shot yourself in the foot with that "argument"!! Are these gremlins or pupils that you are describing?

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Gooding says...
10:16pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Bit of fun at break time with the kids. What's the problem with that?

This is an issue because the school head has made it one and is covering his/her back.

The days of teachers ruling with an iron fist have been eroded by politicians and stupid parents that won't allow their children to be punished, no matter what!

The best teachers nowadays are the ones who can entertain kids and make learning fun. The Harlem Shake is a fun, harmless craze.

Who uploaded the video, and under who's nest ructions is the only issue in all this, but to suspend someone seems reactionary and OTT to me.

Schoold have gone mad. What a waste of time, money and resources this all is. Caldicot School Governing Body should be ashamed.

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jo_les66 says...
10:40pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Here Here Gooding... totally agree with you. I saw the video in question and saw nothing wrong in it, its just a bit of fun..

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Mervyn James says...
8:36am Tue 5 Mar 13

flick711 wrote:
nikkie1974 wrote:
Can somebody please explain what the crime is here? Surely it is better for the kids to feel safe and secure with their teachers to the point that they can do a silly dance with one of them for the whole of 2 mins, rather than running around Caldicot causing untold chaos?! I think the school should open their eyes and realise that these kids are the future of the school and to take this any further would be risking the kids doing something awful. Obviously this teacher is thought of very highly and I hope he knows just how much the kids want him back. The whole situation is people in power gone mad !!!
So if they're not allowed to do a silly dance with their teacher they will cause "untold chaos" and if the school takes things further they will be "risking the kids doing something awful"?? Really?? Think you've shot yourself in the foot with that "argument"!! Are these gremlins or pupils that you are describing?
It is detracting from education. There should be no usage of social media whilst you are in school. The fact they put pupils faces on social medias is what the issue is about. Schools are not allowed to do that it is illegal. As usual the let it all hang out sectors have not understood the issue at all.

My son's school I have to sign 16 chits to allow or not the school to use my son's face via any publicity the school utilises, if parents have done this at that school, then they can be sued, this is why the head is concerned. There are parents who will que up to sue the education authority, that is the ones whose kids bother to attend.

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JoePantry says...
8:56am Tue 5 Mar 13

Goldy_Lookin_Clart wrote:
Ahhhhh so the teacher was filmed dancing with the pupils and he posted it on You Tube.
He is a very silly man if he did that as he has used his pupils in a media posting which breaches child protection guidelines. On the other hand, if the pupils posted it, they would get a wagging finger of "dont do it again", a very silly man if this is all its about.
I've seen the video, I actually went to the school and I know the teacher involved. the man is not silly, he is the best and most down to earth teacher there. It was a students idea to do it, and the student recorded and posted it online.

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JoePantry says...
8:57am Tue 5 Mar 13

Mervyn James wrote:
flick711 wrote:
nikkie1974 wrote:
Can somebody please explain what the crime is here? Surely it is better for the kids to feel safe and secure with their teachers to the point that they can do a silly dance with one of them for the whole of 2 mins, rather than running around Caldicot causing untold chaos?! I think the school should open their eyes and realise that these kids are the future of the school and to take this any further would be risking the kids doing something awful. Obviously this teacher is thought of very highly and I hope he knows just how much the kids want him back. The whole situation is people in power gone mad !!!
So if they're not allowed to do a silly dance with their teacher they will cause "untold chaos" and if the school takes things further they will be "risking the kids doing something awful"?? Really?? Think you've shot yourself in the foot with that "argument"!! Are these gremlins or pupils that you are describing?
It is detracting from education. There should be no usage of social media whilst you are in school. The fact they put pupils faces on social medias is what the issue is about. Schools are not allowed to do that it is illegal. As usual the let it all hang out sectors have not understood the issue at all.

My son's school I have to sign 16 chits to allow or not the school to use my son's face via any publicity the school utilises, if parents have done this at that school, then they can be sued, this is why the head is concerned. There are parents who will que up to sue the education authority, that is the ones whose kids bother to attend.
It was done at breaktime.

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amandaajd1 says...
11:54am Tue 5 Mar 13

Looks like the fire service has a sense of humour...or mervyn should they get their P45s to.....

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flick711 says...
1:10pm Tue 5 Mar 13

amandaajd1 wrote:
Looks like the fire service has a sense of humour...or mervyn should they get their P45s to.....
I don't suppose the fire brigade had children behaving lewdly in theirs? I'm assuming they were all consenting adults?

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amandaajd1 says...
4:17pm Tue 5 Mar 13

It's a bit of fun....the kids were not infant children....as it says in other peoples comments that actually seen the video, it was in break time and there was nothing wrong with the video, just some people having some fun.....what is the world becoming....it was not in the lesson....some people need to get a sense of humour or even better get a life, they would then realise how to have some fun....I am sure the kids of HIGH school have seen a lot worse on the tv, music videos, even Facebook...if my 16 year old son came home from high school and said that a load of kids and the teacher made a video of the Harlem shake at BREAK time, I would think it was great, that the kids and the teacher get on, and life doesn't always have to be serious....pay attention in lessons, but have some fun in BREAK time..this world is far to serious and to much trouble, fighting, war, financial worries..worry about the things that need worrying about...not someone having the latest fad dance

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Gooding says...
10:07pm Tue 5 Mar 13

Mervyn James wrote:
flick711 wrote:
nikkie1974 wrote:
Can somebody please explain what the crime is here? Surely it is better for the kids to feel safe and secure with their teachers to the point that they can do a silly dance with one of them for the whole of 2 mins, rather than running around Caldicot causing untold chaos?! I think the school should open their eyes and realise that these kids are the future of the school and to take this any further would be risking the kids doing something awful. Obviously this teacher is thought of very highly and I hope he knows just how much the kids want him back. The whole situation is people in power gone mad !!!
So if they're not allowed to do a silly dance with their teacher they will cause "untold chaos" and if the school takes things further they will be "risking the kids doing something awful"?? Really?? Think you've shot yourself in the foot with that "argument"!! Are these gremlins or pupils that you are describing?
It is detracting from education. There should be no usage of social media whilst you are in school. The fact they put pupils faces on social medias is what the issue is about. Schools are not allowed to do that it is illegal. As usual the let it all hang out sectors have not understood the issue at all.

My son's school I have to sign 16 chits to allow or not the school to use my son's face via any publicity the school utilises, if parents have done this at that school, then they can be sued, this is why the head is concerned. There are parents who will que up to sue the education authority, that is the ones whose kids bother to attend.
Dear me. You would be lucky to last until break ti e as a teacher with that attitude! I'm not advocating teachers across the country do the Harlem Shake, but a sense of perspective please!?

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Mervyn James says...
10:56am Wed 6 Mar 13

The perspective was from an legal standpoint, if the social aspect was done on school premises it still makes the education authority liable if a parent decides to complain.

On a personal level I WOULD like to see all mobiles etc taken from children in schools, banned on school premises, and computers blocked from accessing the internet except for learning with. They are there to learn, not to play about on twitter and facebook.

Our schools are dire as it is..... 4 LEA's are under compulsory admin.

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amandaajd1 says...
11:23am Wed 6 Mar 13

It was break time....time for fun...

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flick711 says...
12:33pm Wed 6 Mar 13

amandaajd1 wrote:
It was break time....time for fun...
If a child if mine appeared on YouTube doing what some of the kids in that video were doing (and I'm not talking "silly dancing" here) then I would be very worried!! He was extremely stupid to put himself in such a situation!!

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pinkhandbag01 says...
3:15pm Wed 6 Mar 13

I have to say I am amazed by all the fuss this needs to be put into context yes the teacher was silly to compromise himself like that but it was harmless. The children enjoyed it so what harm was done to the children. One thing I do not understand the very children that broadcast this are campaigning for the teacher to return to his job. Surely they must have realised that broadcasting the video would have consequences somewhere along the way. I think a stiff talking to would have been sufficient. Mountain out of a molehill springs to mind!!!

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Mervyn James says...
4:25pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Was your child exposed on youtube with your permission ? It is illegal to photograph or video any child on school premises without express written permission from parents, even then none should be exposed on social medias. Not just silly but highly illegal.

The teacher is aware of the law, he chose to ignore it for 'fun'. Let us hope parents see it that way.

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amandaajd1 says...
5:29pm Wed 6 Mar 13

The teacher didn't post it on youtube...a pupil did...the teacher was probably unaware at the time of posting....

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flick711 says...
7:01pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Unaware?? Are you kidding me? Considering that practically every child these days possesses a mobile phone and will video anything with a pulse - I think it was a safe bet that there would be many videos taken on that day - as well as the one uploaded. And I cannot believe that this teacher could not foresee that happening!
Also, I have to ask whether Pinkie above has seen the video before discussing mountains and molehills. Once that video went public the school had no choice other than to begin a proper investigation.

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twink19 says...
10:48pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Flick711 you really havnt got a clue what you are talking about, you must be an uptight fool who has no fun with your kids if you cant see this as some fun there was nothing wrong with the video i have seen it and you for one are making a mountain out of a mole hill, this is someones career whos worked hard their life and the fact they could have a laugh with their pupils speaks volumes and that pupils have so much respect for their teacher that they are actually rebelling against it all, its the pupils taking advantange thats caused this by posting the video not the teacher

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amandaajd1 says...
8:17am Thu 7 Mar 13

twink19 wrote:
Flick711 you really havnt got a clue what you are talking about, you must be an uptight fool who has no fun with your kids if you cant see this as some fun there was nothing wrong with the video i have seen it and you for one are making a mountain out of a mole hill, this is someones career whos worked hard their life and the fact they could have a laugh with their pupils speaks volumes and that pupils have so much respect for their teacher that they are actually rebelling against it all, its the pupils taking advantange thats caused this by posting the video not the teacher
;)

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Mervyn James says...
11:19am Fri 8 Mar 13

twink19 wrote:
Flick711 you really havnt got a clue what you are talking about, you must be an uptight fool who has no fun with your kids if you cant see this as some fun there was nothing wrong with the video i have seen it and you for one are making a mountain out of a mole hill, this is someones career whos worked hard their life and the fact they could have a laugh with their pupils speaks volumes and that pupils have so much respect for their teacher that they are actually rebelling against it all, its the pupils taking advantange thats caused this by posting the video not the teacher
Ignorance is no excuse. On school premises the LA is at risk of a parent objecting via the child abuse act. You can understand the fun element, but the legal side is a minefield, that is why the school made the fuss. Kids being what they are, why were they allowed to film on school premises ?

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Dai Rear says...
10:49am Sat 9 Mar 13

It has been suggested in the papers that the teacher was mimicking copulation with a cardboard figure. If that's correct, sack him . Quite straightforward. Children need to be taught by teachers, not the nutter on the bus. And "On the inside " presumably being offensive makes you feel a big boy. If Mon DC doesn't employ this teacher and pay him, who does? And if the report is right, about the simulated copulation, then easy decision-10 minute one-sack him. Get a teacher who teaches and understands and conforms to behavioural norms.

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Mervyn James says...
11:41am Sat 9 Mar 13

The pope. Social sites will make criminals of most unless they start acting responsibly, the key thing here is NEVER say anything on a social media you would not say in front of a policeman or your friends Social media makes idiots of most who use it, assuming if you are exposed to the world you are still a private person. People have been denied work, sacked, been sent to prison, killed themselves, and ended up in court on libel charges via social media, if you want to be a private person, then do not USE social media. There is no such thing as private there.

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Floppy backed says...
9:13pm Sat 9 Mar 13

shame we cant suspend teachers for poor uninspiring teaching. A warning would suffice here. Shame schools cant concentrate on what they are there to do. Schools in this country are losing their way.

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Dai Rear says...
9:17am Sun 10 Mar 13

Floppy backed wrote:
shame we cant suspend teachers for poor uninspiring teaching. A warning would suffice here. Shame schools cant concentrate on what they are there to do. Schools in this country are losing their way.
No it wouldn't. The kind of behaviour reported is so far off the scale of what is needed from someone with the care of young people that no amount of retraining would ever work. And they lost their way decades ago when the counties opted for the Politics of Failure and abolished the Grammar Schools.

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Mervyn James says...
10:51am Sun 10 Mar 13

Maybe teachers need to stop pandering to the fads of the internet, and trying to emulate their charges, and start teaching our kids properly ? Today Butlins flew two staff to Poland to recruit the staff for their latest camp. Snubbing British young people because they lack skills to communicate !

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flick711 says...
5:57pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Dai Rear wrote:
It has been suggested in the papers that the teacher was mimicking copulation with a cardboard figure. If that's correct, sack him . Quite straightforward. Children need to be taught by teachers, not the nutter on the bus. And "On the inside " presumably being offensive makes you feel a big boy. If Mon DC doesn't employ this teacher and pay him, who does? And if the report is right, about the simulated copulation, then easy decision-10 minute one-sack him. Get a teacher who teaches and understands and conforms to behavioural norms.
Well said! A voice of common sense. I cannot believe the mentality of people who think you're an "uptight fool" if you are not in favour of a teacher simulating sex in front of pupils while some of the pupils are also simulating sex on each other! No wonder he's so popular!

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twink19 says...
9:10pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Its the harlem shake for god sake plus the teacher is doing the same moves in first half as they are the second so your just looking for something that aint even there

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twink19 says...
9:15pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Plus the teacher isnot even aware by looks of it what is goibg on behind them, not once does the teacher acknowledge what the pupils are doing and it is a 30 odd sec video not asif its 10 minutes, and when i was in school any plays or fun activities were taken part during break times, some people just dont know what they are talking about and forget about things they did in school

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flick711 says...
12:26am Sat 16 Mar 13

twink19 wrote:
Plus the teacher isnot even aware by looks of it what is goibg on behind them, not once does the teacher acknowledge what the pupils are doing and it is a 30 odd sec video not asif its 10 minutes, and when i was in school any plays or fun activities were taken part during break times, some people just dont know what they are talking about and forget about things they did in school
Dear Twink
You are obviously a very loyal student of this wreckless man. When you are older you will come to realise the folly of his actions. I have no intention of commenting further on this thread.

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twink19 says...
7:40pm Sat 16 Mar 13

I am 26 for a start!!! Exactly the same as all your comments just havnt got a clue and jump to conclusions

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