By Sarina Trangle
The city has pulled a PS 101 teacher with a history of using corporal punishment from the classroom and given him administrative duties in the Forest Hills Gardens school after parents protested last week, the city Department of Education said.
City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) said she joined dozens of parents who said their students were afraid of teacher Richard Parlini at the rally.
The crowd was upset Parlini kept his position at PS 101 after facing allegations of physical and verbal abuse.
Parlini could not be reached for comment.
Shortly after the protest, the DOE said Parlini was given administrative duties and the department was looking for an appropriate permanent position for him.
It confirmed it had substantiated six of 11 complaints of verbal abuse and corporal punishment by Parlini since 2010.
The department said he has been disciplined twice and received one-on-one training to prevent such instances.
“Ensuring the safety of all students is a top priority,” the DOE said in a statement.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
