Quantcast

Bronx Teacher Suspended for Over-Touchiness with Girls

2009_08_polayes.jpg The Department of Education has suspended a 57-year-old social studies teacher who has a long history of making students uncomfortable with his over-friendliness. Jonathan Polayes of Hostos-Lincoln Academy of Science in the Bronx has taught in city schools since 1989; accusations around his inappropriate touching began in 1994. In 2001, Polayes was found guilty of touching a student and suspended without pay for a semester. The latest investigation leading to the suspension began in January with a 15-year-old claiming he touched her on the thigh and now up to ten other girls issuing complaints. Polayes made the girls uncomfortable hugging them, patting their bottoms, tickling them and "carrying one 11-year-old girl, cradling her like she was a baby." The DOE released a statement saying, "He has ignored previous warnings and disciplinary action, and it is unfortunate that it is so difficult to fire someone who obviously does not belong in the classroom." The investigation has been forwarded to Bronx DA for potential charges against Polayes.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • Summarex

    My name is Javier Perez. I am a former employee of Hostos Community College and a victim of corruption at Hostos during the presidency of Dolores Fernandez, who now sits on the NYC school board. I learned recently from the news that yet another scandal is emerging at Hostos. A teacher at the Hostos Lincoln Academy was found to be groping girls. Making matters worse, he had done so previously, during the presidency of Dolores Fernandez.. I am outraged but not at all surprised to discover that Fernandez allowed a person who attacked and endangered girls to remain at the school and in contact with students. As president of Hostos, Fernandez should have known what was happening at the associated Lincoln Academy, and should have found some way of protecting the girls there from this individual. Her lack of action on this matter further convinces me that Fernandez is the sort of unscrupulous individual who is willing to compromise ethics and propriety in the name of maintaining false appearances.



    It is inconceivable that a person who allowed this sort of thing to happen on her watch, should now be allowed to make any decisions that affect the the city's schoolchildren. I am demanding that Dolores Fernandez resign from the NYC school board without delay. If she fails to do so then it should fall on Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz Jr. to relieve her of her responsibilities. I also call on the other members of the panel, on parents and concerned New Yorkers to demand her resignation.



    Javier Perez

    Former Lab Tech

    Academic Computing Center

    Hostos Community College

    Victim of corruption At Hostos, CUNY and PSC-CUNY



    Please foerward this to the whole world!

  • blondeinthecity

    I had a new teacher put me in a headlock once (jokingly)... Let's just say he didn't last long. Most schools take these things seriously... It's sad to see that that's not quite the case in the Bronx.

  • gpt

    If he was this touchy with the boys he would have been fired long ago.

  • brain

    he should have just masturbated on the subway like a normal person

  • interlard

    THEY DID NOTHING SINCE 1994???? Who at this union wants to go to jail for endangering children? Which teachers are still with this union? Which parents are sending their children to schools where this union has members? Until someone starts acting like an adult and takes responsibility for their actions and the criminals they passively support, US schools will always be full of incompetent teachers and child molesters.

  • NannyState

    Did he stick his dick in them? Did he grab their titties? Did he fondle their pussies? Did he make them suck his dick? Did he come on them? Did he make them jerk his dick? Did they have to get naked for him? Did he play with himself in front of them?



    Seriously, besides the unwanted gestures, what exactly did he do to them?

  • ihateyou123

    LISTEN ; im one those girls he touched and its not cute or funny ;

    i think he was stupid ;

    && yeah he started befor 1990 & i had to put a stop to this because it felt VERRRRRRYYY uncomfortable ;

    i didnt do it to just fire him or whatever

    i did it so he wont put danger or fear in other girl like me; but yes he did touch me & im not going to lie

    i was their when he cradle the girl too ;

    no he didnt touch our "Va jay jay's" but he did touch our buttocks or everything else ;



    now i needed to get the story clear to you people because you guys take it as a joke .

  • Mr Mel

    Smooth talker.

  • "[C]radling her like she was a baby." You've got to be kidding me.

  • freddynyc

    Perhaps if the Bronx DA's office gets it's way, Mr Polayes' warm affectionate ways will soon be reciprocated in the big house...

  • angry_pickle

    People keep joking about this. But seriously, it is only wishful thinking. Maybe to make us feel better that criminals really do have it bad in prison.

  • Mr Mel

    When I was in the service, I had a sergeant like that.

  • mrguy

    no doubt the teachers unions are the reason it's so hard to fire him.



    Funny, people have this perception of teachers as one of those "good" professions, like doctors, and nurses, and firemen, and crossing guards... and yet teachers unions are among the worst groups out there. seems that they thwart every attempt to improve schools because, god forbid, it might involve making them accountable for their actions/ results.

  • HOTCUP

    the DOE spends 20 years trying to fire this guy for touching kids, but makes rubber-rooming good teachers look easy.

  • Quidnam

    You would think that although it might be impossible to fire a teacher for mere gross incompetence, they would at least be able to dispatch them quickly for this kind of thing.

  • Barbj8

    "He touched her on the thing"? The Breast? The vagina? The hoochie? the Cookie? The Va jay jay? Surely a 15 year old can come up with a better description than 'the thing'!

  • ihateyou123

    LISTEN ; im one those girls he touched and its not cute or funny ;

    i think he was stupid ;

    && yeah he started befor 1990 & i had to put a stop to this because it felt VERRRRRRYYY uncomfortable ;

    i didnt do it to just fire him or whatever

    i did it so he wont put danger or fear in other girl like me; but yes he did touch me & im not going to lie

    i was their when he cradle the girl too ;

    no he didnt touch our "Va jay jay's" but he did touch our buttocks or everything else ;



    now i needed to get the story clear to you people because you guys take it as a joke .

  • BillyParker

    an unfortunate typo

  • Clarice City

    But, a typo that made me laugh.

  • newsyspice

    I'm sure it's supposed to be 'the thigh'.

blog comments powered by Disqus

send a tip

tips@gothamist.com