Any suggestions on how to get to the bottom of a situation
when the students in the class are "mum"? Usually I'm
pretty good at this but can't seem to make a break in this
case!

Someone (perhaps 2-3 someones) scratched inappropriate
comments of a sexual nature about a female classmate into
the wooden bathroom door in the classroom. (This is 5th
grade). The girl found it horribly embarrassing and her
parents are understandably upset. The teacher held a class
meeting and talked about the inappropriateness of the
comments (and defacing school property). She had each of
the kids write her a note about it; usually at this point
one or two kids point the finger at the culprit. No names
came forward.

We did a spell check because the girl's name is spelled
wrong in one of the sentences on the bathroom door. Only
one student in the classroom spelled her name the same
(wrong) way when we did the spell check -- however he
totally denied any part in it. I even told him I had reason
to believe he did it because of the notes his classmates
wrote but he continued to deny.

We did a handwriting check. There are a few other suspects
as a result of doing this, but again, no one will fess up.

Talked to the whole class; told them my standard speech
about if you do something wrong you're going to get in
trouble; do something wrong and lie about it you're going
to get in worse trouble. Nothing. Talked to the whole class
about standing up for the underdog (the girl in this case)
and how you would feel if this was your name on the door;
in their notes they agreed but again, no one came forward.
I told them that I knew someone in the class knew who did
it and that they could have the weekend to think about it.

Not sure where to go from here. We've already talked to
this class about sexual harassment earlier this semester
and sent a letter home to all of the parents.

The girl's mom asked if we could offer a reward leading to
the "capture and conviction" of the culprit(s). She smiled
as she said it but I knew what she meant. Told her that I,
too, needed the weekend to think about it.

Ideas? Thanks!!!!! Have a great weekend.

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