Child Says Teacher Stole Lunch Money

BALTIMORE (CN) - A mother claims in court that her son's teacher assaulted the second-grader and stole his lunch money, and told his class that "we owe her a quarter every time we 'act up' in class."

Lynsai Green sued the Baltimore School Board, the mayor and City County, and Gwynn Falls Elementary School teachers Marcelius Lockes, in City Court.

Green claims that her 7-year-old son told her "that the 'cafeteria lady' told him to bring to school the money that he owed her for lunch that week."

Green says her son gets reduced-price lunches for 40 cents, and "always had sufficient money to pay for his lunch."

When she asked "why he owed the 'lunch lady' money, [her son] stated that the math teacher, defendant Ms. Marcelius Lockes had been taking money from him and another child in his class," the complaint states.

It continues: "[Green's son] told his mother that Ms. Lockes 'took my money to buy a soda' and 'she says we owe her a quarter every time we "act up" in class.'"

Green says that her son, a special education student, takes daily medication for his ADHD that will make him ill if he doesn't eat regular meals.

She claims that the teacher Lockes "has exhibited inappropriate behavior in the past in her class and in front of her students. She has referred to herself as being a 'She-Ra' or that the 'devil' was coming out of her during her discipline of the children.

"In addition to the monetary discipline, defendant Lockes has also physically disciplined [Green's son] by pulling [his] ears.

"Defendant Lockes reportedly uses physical discipline with other children in the school in a manner [Green's son] described as ... 'she pushed us' and 'jacks us up' around our neck by our clothes," the complaint states.

Green claims that when her son told her of the abuse, she went to school and the cafeteria attendant told her that her son's account had a negative balance of $1.20, though she had sent him to school with plenty of money to pay for his lunches.

She claims that her son now is afraid to ask questions in math class, that she has been forced to spend money for tutoring and psychological counseling, and that Lockes' violated the school board's prohibition of corporal punishment.

She seeks damages for negligence, respondeat superior, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and other charges.

She is represented by Randall Craig Jr.

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