FSTDT

More students claim inappropriate behavior by Mt. Juliet teacher

MOUNT JULIET, TN (WSMV) -
There are more disturbing allegations against Mt. Juliet High School social studies teacher Wes Tewmey.

After News4 exposed allegedly derogatory comments Tewmey made towards a Hispanic student, Austin Verduzco, several of Tewmey’s former students took to Facebook sharing stories similar to the current Mount Juliet junior.

Secorya Jones, who graduated from MJHS in 2014, says during her freshman year in the cafeteria, Tewmey asked her if she “received government assistance”.

Jones, an African-American, says she was shocked by the question.

“I didn’t know what to say," she said. "I kind of was just like, ‘Are you serious?’”

Jones told News4 Tewmey would often force students to stay in their seats the entire class, even when they asked to use the bathroom. Two other former students confirm to News4 the same thing happened to them.

“I had to use the bathroom because of 'girl problems,' and he wouldn’t let me go," one woman said in a Facebook post.

Both Tewmey and Wilson County Schools Director Donna Wright declined our request for comment. However, News4 did obtain messages between one former student and the district's communications director Jennifer Johnson.

Johnson reached out to the woman after seeing her Facebook post regarding Tewmey’s no-bathroom policy.

“I saw your comment, that’s pretty shocking,” Johnson said.Stay with News4 for updates.

Wes Tewmey, Wilson County School District #racist wsmv.com

School board member on Mt. Juliet teacher allegations: ‘If true, I’m concerned’

MOUNT JULIET, TN (WSMV) -
For the first time since News4 exposed allegations of racist and derogatory comments made by Mt. Juliet High School teacher Wes Tewmey, a member of the Wilson County School Board is speaking out.

News4 reached Wes Tewmey by phone on Monday. He called the story “fake news” and the accusations against him “lies” and hung up.

Meanwhile, News4 has now spoken with eight current and former students who recount stories of racially charged and derogatory comments made during class.

“He would keep using the word ‘Japs’ when discussing the Japanese,” said one former half-Japanese student, who asked to have her identity protected in fear of retaliation.

"I asked him, ‘Can you please not say that word? It’s really offensive,’" explained Tewmey's former student. "And he cut me off and said, ‘Well, my grandfather used [that term], and so will I.’”

News4 has reviewed Tewmey’s entire employment file. However, despite multiple reports from current and former students that say they made complaints about the teacher to school officials in the past, there were no complaints from parents or students in the file.

Now, some believe their complaints were simply dismissed or covered up by the school's administrators.

One former student, who also wished to remain anonymous, provided News4 with a message she sent to Wilson County Schools Communications Director Jennifer Johnson on Friday.

"Every complaint my family made about him to the Principal is like it was just swept under the rug,” the message read.

Wes Tewmey #racist wsmv.com

Mt. Juliet student kicked out of school after reporting teacher’s racist comment

MOUNT JULIET, TN (WSMV) -
A 16-year-old Mt. Juliet High School junior is used to classmates making fun of his Hispanic heritage, but when a teacher pretended not to remember his name and allegedly began calling him “Austin Fettuccine" in front of other students, he decided to report it. Now he says he's being punished for coming forward.

“I just felt targeted at that point,” Verduzco told News 4. “I was just shocked.”

Verduzco provided News 4 with a signed witness statement from a classmate who says she heard Social Studies teacher Wes Tewmey make the “Fettuccine” comment in front of a room full of students.

When News4 emailed Tewmey asking for a comment he replied, “Wrong again, fake news. Ever heard of libel, Mr. Trager?”

According to disciplinary records released to News4 by Verduzco’s mother, school officials claim Verduzco told classmates that Tewmey is a racist.

After an anonymous Facebook post calling Tewmey a 'racist' began circulating among students, Verduzco was accused of sharing it.

“The officers questioned me," he said. "The principal asked me for names of witnesses. I spent the whole day in and out of principal’s office explaining and writing statements.”

Verduzco was found guilty of “behavior prejudicial to good order and discipline,” and was sent to Wilson County’s alternative high school, MAP Academy, for nine weeks.

“Most of the kids are there for gang-affiliated activities, drugs, and bringing knives to school,” he said. “I’m angry with what they did to me.”

Wilson County Schools Director Dr. Donna Wright released the following statement to News 4:

"Privacy laws prevent me from being able to address the specific allegations you've asked about. Suffice to say, our district does not tolerate racist remarks, and any reports of that nature are always investigated and taken seriously."

Dale Spurgeon #racist wsmv.com

The Nazi flag is a symbol that goes hand in hand with hate, bigotry and the persecution of millions of innocent lives.

Dale Spurgeon of Robertson County is proudly flying it in Middle Tennessee.

"I'm standing up for the white race, my people," Spurgeon said. "I don't hate Jewish people. I would let a Jew come in here and have dinner with me."

Spurgeon said he doesn't want others to mistake his pride for racism. He said his main reason for flying this flag is to support the National Socialist Movement.

"If America would adopt that form of government, I think all of the problems the country is having would be gone," Spurgeon added.

To Spurgeon, the flag represents fighting corruption and getting rid of foreign influence.

[...]

Spurgeon doesn't believe what history books say about the Holocaust.

"It would be impossible to exterminate that many people in that period of time," he said.