2 teachers suspended for barking at girl

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WARREN, Ohio, March 3 (UPI) -- Two middle-school teachers in Ohio have been suspended for barking at a student who allegedly barked at another teacher.

Meghan Montgomery told WFMJ-TV in Youngstown she disciplined her daughter after school officials in Warren told her her daughter had misbehaved in a music class. But she said two teachers who were not involved in the initial incident didn't let the matter drop.

"The teachers had the whole classroom barking at her and calling her a dog and taunting her and just being mean to her," Montgomery said.

Annette Constantino, who has been teaching in Warren for 11 years, was given a two-day suspension and Judith Brown, a 16-year veteran, got five days. Montgomery called the penalties "a slap on the wrist."

"The two teachers called me and tried to justify themselves," Montgomery said. "Ms. Constantino said that she was trying to let Marissa know how it felt."

The suspensions begin Monday.

"The school has adopted a zero tolerance against bullying but it seems like that only applies to the students," Thomas Eldridge, Marissa's grandfather, told the TV station.