48 year old Norman Dunkley has been teaching science for more than 23 years at Public School 70 in Claremont Village. An investigation was started after 4 students, all 10 year old, complained about the teacher’s inappropriate behavior. One of the girls reported that the teacher touched her breast and the 3 others complained that the teacher showed them nude pictures of adult women and told them they were “his babies”.
The teacher was arrested on wednesday and in a criminal complaint that was made public Thursday, he was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, harassment, forcible touching and sexual abuse. This is the first criminal complaint against him and probably not the last one as the investigation is ongoing.
The teachers was removed from the school and the NYC Department of Education announced that he would be terminated if convicted.
He is due back in Court for a grand jury hearing on June 27.
Parents were outraged.
What can a parent do legally if a child is sexually abused in a New York City Public School?
If a child is exposed to phonography, comments of a sexual nature, unwanted touching leering or other inappropriate behavior while at school, parents might be able to sue the school for failing to protect the child and for failing to proprely screen and supervise not only the teachers but also anyone who has been hired by the school such as bus drivers, coaches , maintenance crew, janitors or other adults working with or near the students. The school can also be held legally responsible of child sexual abuse that occurs out of the school premises but are perpetrated by someone hired by the school system.
Read more in The Bronx News 12