'Teacher accused of making first-graders rub her feet'

Teacher accused of making first-graders rub her feet
'Does she take off her socks and shoes?' 'Grandma, she wears flip-flops'

updated 11/15/2011 9:00:34 PM ET

LEXINGTON, S.C. — Lexington County School District Three is investigating after a first-grader complained about having to rub her teacher's feet.

A district representative said the district has launched a full investigation, appropriate action has been taken and the situation has been rectified. But that's not nearly enough for some parents.

"She admitted to the children rubbing her feet," said Brenda Norris. "Just the thought of it.... They immediately sent her home, but she's back there today."

Norris is far from satisfied after her 6-year-old granddaughter, who is in first grade, came home from Batesburg-Leesville Primary School last Wednesday to say she was "tired of rubbing her teacher's feet."

"'Does she take off her socks and shoes?'" Norris recounted asking. "'Grandma, she wears flip-flops.'"

Norris refused to name the teacher but said she would select students to massage her feet during class time. "My granddaughter has nightmares, she cries," said Norris. "She said, 'I have three wishes, Grandma. One of them was not to go to school today.'"

Outraged, Norris took to Facebook and found at least half a dozen parents who said this also happened to their kids. The district says the situation has been handled. "I don't trust the system at all now," said Norris. "I can't trust the system. I'm afraid for her to go to school."

Norris said the punishment is unacceptable since the teacher still has her job, and her granddaughter's trust has been destroyed. "She was taught to do what the teacher said do," said Norris. "And the teacher wants her to rub her feet? She told me, 'Grandma, you didn't tell me if I touch someone else, to tell you.' That broke my heart."