Parents settle with alleged bully teacher

MONTREAL, March 26 (UPI) -- The parents of a Montreal child they allege was bullied by a teacher have settled out of court to avoid a long trial, school board officials said.

The parents of a Grade 4 student named Mathew had sued teacher Mary Kanavaros and the English Montreal School Board for $155,000, alleging abusive behavior in the 2004-05 school year, The Gazette newspaper in Montreal reported.

"From the start of the school year, defendant Kanavaros showed a strong dislike for Mathew," the suit said. "In September 2004, she tore up his school book and called him pitiful in front of his classmates."

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed but the Gazette said it could affect a second lawsuit in the courts against Kanavaros. Another woman is suing her for $170,000, alleging Kanavaros humiliated her son in front of the class by holding up his work, crumpling it or throwing it in the garbage three years ago, the report said.

Kanavaros refused to speak to reporters after Tuesday's court session, The Gazette said.