In response to Peggy Carlock, a former chemistry teacher at Albany High School in Albany, Calif.,, giving Bowen Bethards, 17, a C+ in 2011, the student is now suing the school district, Albany Patch reports.
The suit claims the grade was not indicative of Bethards' academic achievements, but rather was the result of a personal vendetta the teacher had against the boy.
According to the report, Bethards claims the issue began when he missed a chemistry lab to attend an adoption hearing for his younger sister at the Contra Costa County Superior Courthouse on May 27 of that year. The suit claims both Bethards and his mother informed Carlock of the absence and were assured the teen could make up the lab at a later date.
Instead, Bethards claims Carlock changed her mind, saying she was going to fail him. Despite being assured by the school's principal, Ted Barone, that the matter would be resolved, Bethard's received a failing grade for his chemistry lab, allegedly taking his overall grade from an A+ to a C+.
Bethard's mother is now seeking $10,000 in her suit against the Albany Unified School District, claiming the teacher's refusal to allow the teen to make up the lab violated California Education Code Section 48205. The suit also seeks damages for "severe emotional distress" because his lifelong dream has been to go to UCLA for medical school -- and a C+ in chemistry could inhibit that.
According to a separate report from Albany Patch, Carlock was put on leave in March of this year, lasting through her June retirement.