QUOTE
MCHS Searching For New JROTC Instructor
Instructor resigned last week after an incident during a testing session.
Deborah Sederberg
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - A search has begun to find a new instructor for the JROTC program at Michigan City High School following the instructor's abrupt resignation last week.
"We are doing all we can to find a new instructor," Assistant Superintendent Carla Iacona said Monday.
The search for a JROTC instruction will be the second since the program's founder, Maj. Larry Naifeh died in 2006. His death left the program's future up in the air; although MCAS hired 1st Sgt. Marty Pluchinsky to run the program, he resigned at the end of last school year.
Pluchinsky's replacement, Gunnery Sgt. Julius Miles, 47, a retired Marine who lives in Illinois, confirmed Monday that he has resigned as instructor.
He said his resignation is the result of an incident with a student on Thursday, Sept. 20, in which Miles said he filed a battery report with the Michigan City Police Department, accusing a 16-year-old boy of punching him in the jaw.
The boys' parents then filed a battery report in which they say Miles punched their son.
Miles admits he punched the student.
"It was a purely reactionary thing," he said.
Miles said he regrets throwing the punch, and on Sunday, Sept. 23, he went into the high school, collected his personal belongings and left his resignation letter.
"I knew it was in everyone's best interest that I resign," he said.
Miles said the incident happened during GQE testing. He said the student had been sent away from another teacher's classroom on Tuesday, Sept. 18, for causing a disruption during testing. On Wednesday and Thursday, he was back in school, said Miles.
"To tell the truth, I didn't think students were taking any of the test after missing a part of it."
The GQE is a six-hour test given over three days.
A directive from the Indiana Department of Education to students says, "You have to be present for testing on all three days. There are no make-ups."
Miles said he asked the student to stop talking to another student during the exam and to turn around in his seat and face the front of the classroom.
Soon, he said, it became clear the student likely would not comply. "I didn't want to embarrass him and I took him into the hallway," he said.
In the hallway, Miles said, the student let loose with a string of profanities and vulgarities, many of them directed at the instructor. He called Miles a number of foul names, the instructor said.
During the Monday interview with Miles, he spelled the objectionable words to The News-Dispatch to avoid pronouncing them.
Miles said the student then punched him in the jaw after the instructor ordered him to the principal's office.
While making no excuses for his reaction, Miles said, "Unfortunately, there are some kids who don't belong in school. They're not there to learn but to cause discontent and hate."
Miles said he was sorry to leave his group of more than 100 JROTC students. "We were planning some great things," he said. "Already, the students were enjoying going outside to march."
Miles said he had always wanted to have an opportunity to be a positive influence on the lives of young people. He said he doesn't want anyone to worry about him or to feel sorry for him.
"This program is about kids, not about me," he said.
The News-Dispatch was unable to reach the student's parents.
Contact Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com.
Instructor resigned last week after an incident during a testing session.
Deborah Sederberg
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - A search has begun to find a new instructor for the JROTC program at Michigan City High School following the instructor's abrupt resignation last week.
"We are doing all we can to find a new instructor," Assistant Superintendent Carla Iacona said Monday.
The search for a JROTC instruction will be the second since the program's founder, Maj. Larry Naifeh died in 2006. His death left the program's future up in the air; although MCAS hired 1st Sgt. Marty Pluchinsky to run the program, he resigned at the end of last school year.
Pluchinsky's replacement, Gunnery Sgt. Julius Miles, 47, a retired Marine who lives in Illinois, confirmed Monday that he has resigned as instructor.
He said his resignation is the result of an incident with a student on Thursday, Sept. 20, in which Miles said he filed a battery report with the Michigan City Police Department, accusing a 16-year-old boy of punching him in the jaw.
The boys' parents then filed a battery report in which they say Miles punched their son.
Miles admits he punched the student.
"It was a purely reactionary thing," he said.
Miles said he regrets throwing the punch, and on Sunday, Sept. 23, he went into the high school, collected his personal belongings and left his resignation letter.
"I knew it was in everyone's best interest that I resign," he said.
Miles said the incident happened during GQE testing. He said the student had been sent away from another teacher's classroom on Tuesday, Sept. 18, for causing a disruption during testing. On Wednesday and Thursday, he was back in school, said Miles.
"To tell the truth, I didn't think students were taking any of the test after missing a part of it."
The GQE is a six-hour test given over three days.
A directive from the Indiana Department of Education to students says, "You have to be present for testing on all three days. There are no make-ups."
Miles said he asked the student to stop talking to another student during the exam and to turn around in his seat and face the front of the classroom.
Soon, he said, it became clear the student likely would not comply. "I didn't want to embarrass him and I took him into the hallway," he said.
In the hallway, Miles said, the student let loose with a string of profanities and vulgarities, many of them directed at the instructor. He called Miles a number of foul names, the instructor said.
During the Monday interview with Miles, he spelled the objectionable words to The News-Dispatch to avoid pronouncing them.
Miles said the student then punched him in the jaw after the instructor ordered him to the principal's office.
While making no excuses for his reaction, Miles said, "Unfortunately, there are some kids who don't belong in school. They're not there to learn but to cause discontent and hate."
Miles said he was sorry to leave his group of more than 100 JROTC students. "We were planning some great things," he said. "Already, the students were enjoying going outside to march."
Miles said he had always wanted to have an opportunity to be a positive influence on the lives of young people. He said he doesn't want anyone to worry about him or to feel sorry for him.
"This program is about kids, not about me," he said.
The News-Dispatch was unable to reach the student's parents.
Contact Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com.
