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"This teacher has a history of encouraging noogie behavior."

"She had this very bizarre tendency to invite students to give her noogies."

That's Edward Paltzik, lawyer for Ethan Mirenberg, who was given a 10-month suspension for giving his high school teacher noogies. Now, he also has a big Daily News article making light of his physical assault on the teacher ? who is referred to as "the 39-year-old divorcee." Why does her marital status matter? We're also told she lives in a "luxury apartment"! The boy is referred to ? in the headline ? as an "honor student."

Ethan, 14, is 5-feet-3 and 150 pounds, and the teacher, Sharon Cantante, is only 4'11". Somehow, this tiny woman was just asking for disrespect and physical assault, the courts ought to prevent schools from doing anything about it, and newspapers should make light of it. The Daily News has a cutesy poll to signal to readers to laugh and think the boy a victim of injustice.

Nice job letting a lawyer play you, Daily News.

Full post as published by Althouse on June 20, 2008 (boomark / email).