Education Law

Judge Refuses to Stay Suspension of Student for Giving ‘Noogies’

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A New York judge has refused to stay the suspension of a student who is accused of giving a teacher “noogies” despite her requests to stop.

Lynbrook High School had suspended 14-year-old Ethan Mirenberg for nine months after a hearing officer determined he gave a teacher noogies—which he administered by forcibly pressing his knuckles on her scalp—on two occasions, the New York Law Journal reports. The first occurred during an athletic event and the second after Mirenberg entered his former middle school without permission, the officer found.

Judge Thomas Phelan of Nassau County ruled Mirenberg had not exhausted administrative remedies before filing his court complaint.

Mirenberg contends that rather than delivering “noogies,” he lightly patted the teacher on her head. He also claims the lawyer who acted as a hearing officer was biased.

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