Oct 8, 2008 5:54 pm US/Central
Local H.S. Investigated For Paddling Athletes
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
CBS 2 Investigators have the name of another Chicago Public School being investigated for illegally paddling athletes. CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini first exposed athletes being beaten by coaches. His report led to a citywide investigation. The abuses under investigation involve the use of wooden paddles, even baseball bats, to hit athletes for not performing on the court.
Savini reports that the 2 Investigators have learned exclusively that Morgan Park High School is under investigation for the illegal practice of corporal punishment. Parents of some students there are alleging basketball players were struck with paddles for missing assignments on the court.
A paddle and baseball bat were confiscated earlier this summer at Simeon Career Academy after Bruce Zayas, a student there, blew the whistle on beatings during a volleyball practice.
The Morgan Park athletic program is the latest school under investigation. It is one of at least five high schools were players were allegedly struck by coaches for missing assignments.
Chicago Public School investigators are interviewing coaches at that school along with officials at Simeon, Phillips High School and Marshall High School.
The citywide probe was prompted by CBS 2 after we obtained security camera footage showing a coach repeatedly hitting players on the varsity volleyball team.
That coach, Fred McClinton, has resigned and refused to talk.
The airing of that story led to more players coming forward at Marshall High School, home of this year's state championship team. CBS 2 obtained internal Chicago Public school records revealing players complaining about paddlings a year ago.
The question now is why wasn't anything done? Chicago Public School CEO Arne Duncan vows to find out what happened. He is promising to fire any coach caught using corporal punishment. CBS 2 learned that one coach would actually roll dice to see how many times a player would get hit.
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