4th Grader Forced to Turn Yankee Shirt Inside Out by Red Sox Fan Teacher

Nathan Johns, a fourth-grader at Van Buren Elementary school in Baldwinsville, NY came home earlier this week and told his dad, James, that he was in trouble for wearing a New York Yankees t-shirt at school.

The 9-year-old claims that his teacher, Peter Addabbo, instructed him to go into the bathroom and turn his shirt inside-out. The shirt Johns was wearing that day was blue, and read “New York No. 52” on the front and “Sabathia” for the Yankees’ pitcher C.C. Sabathia, on the back.

Addabbo is a Boston Red Sox fan, according to Nathan, and the classroom is decorated with Red Sox paraphernalia. “Just because my teacher doesn’t like the Yankees I should still have the right to wear a Yankees shirt,” he told the Syracuse newspaper, the Post-Standard.

After complying with his teacher and reversing his shirt, Nathan was teased on the playground at lunchtime by students from fifth-grade classes. He continued to tell the paper, “It was such a horrible day, I don’t ever want anything like to happen again.”

Baldwinsville Schools Superintendent Jeanne Dangle claims that the district is conducting an investigation into the student’s claims, and has told his parents that she will report back to them in a few days.

“I was stunned, absolutely flabbergasted,” Nate’s dad told the Post-Standard. “I couldn’t believe it. He was distraught. The school preaches all about not allowing bullying, and this really felt like he was being bullied.”

What do you think, was the Red Sox supporting teacher in the wrong here? Let the school district know:

Van Buren Elementary School
Phone: (315) 638-6121
Principal: Terry Bick

Baldwinsville School District
Phone: (315) 638-6043
Superintendent: Jeanne Dangle

District e-mail contact: pmckenna@bville.org