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A Winterset parent says her eighth-grade student is struggling after being named the teacher’s “least favorite student of the week.”

The parent told The Iowa Standard that every Monday the eighth-grade social studies teacher played a dice game where they would pick their favorite and least favorite student of the week. The game had been going on for some time.

The student had the teacher write a note proving he was chosen as the “least favorite” student. The next day, the note was shown to the student’s parent.

The principal of Winterset Junior High was alerted right away. According to the parent, the teacher admitted what happened to the principal. The teacher was allegedly placed on administrative leave with pay shortly after.

The next day there was a meeting with the family, principal, superintendent and teacher. The teacher apologized and thanked the student for holding him accountable and bringing to light what the game could do to students who suffer from bullying and mental health issues.

The teacher was then allegedly allowed to return to work right away and apologized for the game.

But problems were just beginning for the student, according to the parent.

It wasn’t long before other students realized what had happened and who turned the teacher in.

“Kids began to bombard my son with questions and hateful comments,” the parent said.

The student began having panic attacks, the parent told The Iowa Standard.

The parent said they have told the principal and counselor about the consequences but concerns were “dismissed.”

The student is also being harassed on social media, the parent said.

The Iowa Standard reached out to the Winterset superintendent to ask for the district’s perspective of the situation.

As of early Tuesday morning, we had not heard back.

Author: Jacob Hall

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