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Teacher shaken by poisoning attempt
Two students are accused of putting a fabric deodorizer in the teacher's soda during class.
By LETITIA STEIN AND ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published April 3, 2007
TAMPA - Jacqueline Hutchins can't sleep. She isn't ready to face questions from her students at Giunta Middle School. She still can taste the Febreze that two eighth-graders put in her Pepsi during a science class on Friday. The students, whom the Times is not naming because of their age, were arrested on felony charges of poisoning. They also could face 10-day suspensions and a change of school. Hutchins, 51, didn't swallow much. Physically, she says she's fine. It wasn't until the next day that what had happened began to sink in. "I can't get the taste out of my mouth," said Hutchins, who is taking personal leave this week to deal with the trauma. "I don't think it's ever going to go away." She believes one student got caught up in a prank, and the other was out to make her life miserable. Both, she said, were special education students. When she wasn't looking, the 15-year-olds seized the Febreze that she had purchased for her classroom. Other students were watching, according to Debbie Carter, a Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman. Teacher poisonings have happened before in Hillsborough schools. At Sickles High School, a 16-year-old special education student poured cleaning solution into a teacher's water bottle in 2005. Not long before, a Franklin Middle School student was arrested for putting Sanford Board Cleaner in an instructor's lemonade. Window cleaner was used by a Jennings Middle student who tampered with a math teacher's soda in 2004. "I never dreamed this would happen to me," said Hutchins, who has been teaching in Hillsborough since 1990. She doesn't know what to do to feel right and return to the classroom. She wonders why school officials didn't call to check on her this weekend. She wonders about her legal rights. She says she wants to be able to do her job. "This is my career," she said, "and I really love what I do." Letitia Stein can be reached at lstein@sptimes.com or 813-226-3400.
[Last modified April 3, 2007, 00:58:58]
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by Shaquila
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02/15/08 11:48 PM
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that's my homeroom teacher this year... this is cool to see her on the internet... but that was wrong what they did....and one of them was my cousin
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by lina
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08/19/07 08:16 PM
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well i was currently in the seventh grade when this happened and it was horrible i didnt personaly know the teacher but she was nice to me when i saw her and said hello but those kids hopefully get what they deserve "justice"
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by Hillary
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04/12/07 05:54 PM
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It's the student again. I agree with MLF because the teacher didnt do anything. She WAS assulted and should be treated. And I dont give a fuck about the ages. Give the names! One's nicole..I know that much.
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by Hillary
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04/12/07 05:50 PM
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I go to Giunta Middle and the teachers there are pretty cool. I just dont understand why someone would go and do such a thing to someone who is trying their hardest to brighten their future. It just makes no sense t o me at all.
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by mlf
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04/03/07 09:23 PM
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I cannot believe the comments about the teacher!She was ASSuLTED,don't give me this mental capcity crap,they knew what they were doing-period, and what kind of ldrsp team does not even check on her? If she sues maybe that will make the others notice!
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by Allison
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04/03/07 09:19 PM
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Why should qualified people want to become teachers these days when they have to deal with crap like this from kids like that. Those two kids should be banned from school forever and leave it up to their parents to homeschool them.
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by Bill
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04/03/07 09:15 PM
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The kids most likely have an IEP that will exclude them from punishment. That just sets them up for when they do something more serious as an adult. FFA to them means Future Felon of America. The board of ed is most likely to worried about being sued
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by SDHCteacher
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04/03/07 08:25 PM
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I can't believe that she can' believe that school officials didn't call her. It is becoming very obvious how much Hillsborough County values its teachers, although the media refuses to cover this because they are on Elia's payroll.
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by Bob
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04/03/07 05:45 PM
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We have too many brats now. Paddling their asses is not permitted today. Damn.
These things didn't happen years ago. I say throw the book at them. Teachers deserve better.
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by John
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04/03/07 01:37 PM
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It's not a prank. It's attempted murder. The first time I read about idiot kids doing this I thought they didn't appreciate the consequences. But this is an old tale now - and so these kids should know better, and so should be prosecuted accordingly.
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by Ray
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04/03/07 01:26 PM
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I would sue their butts for everything there worth. Enough hand slapping for major infractions. Bring out the board of education. Passive discipline does not work anymore in our schools. Look at we have in schools today as a result. Time to get tough
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by Vic
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04/03/07 07:34 AM
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It is my understanding that the girl involved has the mental capacity of an 8 year old.I would think there would not be much in the way of charges.Is this mentally challenged child still being held in jail? I doubt she understands,and is terrified.
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by Steve
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04/03/07 06:32 AM
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Simple solution. Don't allow food and drink in the classrooms. Teachers should follow the same rules they are expected to enforce. "Do as I say, not as I do", has always been pretty lame, and subject to adolescent retribution.
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by Patty
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04/03/07 06:23 AM
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Hutchin's is obviously a drama queen.What happened is not right,but to say "I can't get the taste out of my mouth" is a BIT much.To wonder about her legal rights sounds like this lady is on the path to make $$.How sad all the way around.Nice,teach.
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by Mad
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04/03/07 06:19 AM
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It is time to STOP protecting criminals by NOT publishing names...no matter how young they are.These "children" commit adult acts and DO NOT deserve any protection.
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Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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