Mom: Boys suspended for viewing questionable photo

ANDERSON, Ind. - An Anderson middle school student says he was suspended after viewing a questionable picture of his teacher on a school-issued i-Pad.

This happened at Highland Junior High in Anderson.

13 year old Josh Troutt says he and his friends were playing with a school-issued iPad in class on Monday.

“My friend let it go to sleep because we were talking,” said Josh Troutt, a seventh grader. “Then he went to unlock it again and the cover photo was a picture of the teacher topless.”

Josh says he and his friends saw his teacher from the neck to the waist, in a bra, on the classroom's iPad. He says his friends told the principal, and the next day, he and two others were called to the office. Josh says they were all suspended.

“She told me not to come to school the next day,” said Josh.

“It was just unbelievable. I don’t understand how he can be suspended for a picture he had no control over; it was a school-issued iPad,” said Nicole Troutt, Josh’s mom.

Nicole says she was given a choice, whether to give Josh a 5 day suspension (after which she says he would only be allowed to attend school three hours a day), or for Josh to be expelled, and then have a chance to argue her case at an expulsion hearing.

Nicole says she chose expulsion. She hopes to have an expulsion hearing soon.

“It don’t make any sense,” said Nicole. “The action should have been taken on the teacher, not the students,” she added.

Josh says he didn’t understand the reason for the suspension.

“They wouldn't tell me,” he said. “She wouldn’t answer, she just said go get your stuff.”

School officials wouldn’t comment on the suspensions (or Nicole’s choice for expulsion). They also wouldn’t say whether any discipline was taken against the teacher.

Assistant Superintendent Beth Clark told 24-Hour News 8 she was unable to comment related to specific personnel issues or student discipline issues.

Anderson Police also investigated the incident at the school and are expected to release more information Thursday.

Police say they’ve made no arrests.