The only thing that requires investigation is the contract the school has with its furniture supplier. The table should not have toppled over.

But as far as John Haynes being place on adminstrative leave -- that is simply another case of Liberals Gone Wild. The teacher must be in firm control of the classroom and was totally within his rights to regain the attention of the students.

However, I do question the judgment of Superintendent Jan Christensen. The police reported their findings and that should have been enough. No wonder costs are out of control when the Superintendent wastes valuable time by going on an adminstrative wild goose chase. Sounds like there is a staff with too much time on its hands. Perhaps their should be a reduction in adminstrative overhead.

This is ridiculous. This is nothing more than a hysterical 13 year old girl making obviously unfounded accusations. Probably because she wasn't paying attention or was being disruptive. What are we coming to when we take this kind of garbage seriously? The principal should have sent the girl home for the day for making false accusations.

The teacher lifted the table a couple of inches and dropped it to get the students' attention?

I'm surprised they didn't go into "lock down" mode and activate the SWAT team.

I agree with everything said this call should not have been made. If this girl was traumatized by this she is going to have a tough life, because it doesn't get easier. When I was in school banging on a table was a lot better than some of the punishments I recieved, all were desrved.

Just another attempt by the Atherton PD to attempt to justify it's existence. Another big story today was their dramatic arrest of a guy who allegedly stole a hammer from a pickup truck.

[Post. Please avoid speculating about what happened.] I remember being 13 - no thanks! Poor teacher - I hope that he recovers & the students learn from this - to be quiet & respect their teachers. [Portion deleted.]

The student's overreaction isn't the issue. She's a kid with a cell phone.

But the overreaction of the police, the principal and the superintendent are inexcusable.

They all owe the teacher an apology.

POGO, the kid started it [portion deleted] & she needs to held accountable, in the manner appropriate for her age, for the chain reaction she started. I agree that the [portion deleted] administrators involved behaved stupidly - total over correction.

I hope the teacher gets reinstated. Perhaps he should sue.

Sorry, but I don't expect much from a 13 year old student.

But I do expect more from the ADULTS on scene - especially the police, the principal and the superintendent. That this teacher was put on paid leave is a travesty. The adults have overreacted and compounded a non-event.

Oh brother. Another reason why cell phones should not be allowed in the classroom. I hope this teacher was able to enjoy time away from the students. Heaven knows they need it.

The APD released the dispatch tape (why I don't know) and the San Mateo Daily News site has it online. During the beginning of the tape, the dispatcher seemed pretty good. But as it goes on, it becomes obvious there's really nothing to this situation and the more appropriate response would have been for the dispatcher to call the principal and ask them to check into this first before determining whether any police action was needed. But they (APD) are hungry to get some good press after so much bad press, the miscalculation seems to be that this would reflect well on them but in fact it does not.

Thanks, Tape, for the info. I agree APD is hungry for good press - but this was a lousy way to try to get it. Really, really stupid.

POGO, having been a 13 y/o girl, I have higher standards because I'd never have done anything like that & neither would my friends. I totally agree w/you re the adults.

[Post removed. Offensive language and speculating about the facts.]