Principal Says He Was Forced To Retire Because Of 'Cute' Suspension Controversy

The principal of Brookside Elementary in Gaston County says he doesn't have a job "because of some syndicated columnist in New York or California." Jerry Bostic plans to retire. He told the Gaston Gazette that Superintendent Reeves McGlohon gave him one hour to decide to retire, or risk being fired or demoted as a result of his decision to suspend a fourth-grader three days for telling another student that a teacher was "cute." A letter informing the boy's mother of the suspension said it was sexual harassment, and noted that he had been warned about calling students names. Several newspapers, cable programs and blogs across the country picked up the story. A school investigation determined no sexual harassment occurred, the Gazette reports. Bostic tells the paper that he wishes that McGlohon gave him a chance to apologize to the student's family. One mistake, he says, shouldn't count more than all the good he's done throughout his career. "I made a mistake, but I've worked for Gaston County Schools for 44 years and (Gaston County Schools Superintendent) Reeves McGlohon could have cared less," said Bostic. "One mistake in 44 years. And I'm not given the benefit of the doubt." Another quote from Bostic in the Gazette story: "He (McGlohon) told me he had made the decision he was going to terminate me or drop me into an assistant principal position. I admit I made some errors in what I did, but to fire me or to demote me with 44 years in it, it just doesn't make sense. To me he was a very heartless man, and he did it because of politics."