(Image Source: Marinace Architects)

BY JULIA CORDEROY

A 9-year-old boy suspended from his elementary school in North Carolina after being accused of sexual harassment . But he tells WSOC - it was all over a little crush.

EMANYEA: “I was talking to my friend, I said Ms Taylor was ‘cute.’ And that’s it, that’s all I said.”
REPORTER: “His mother said the principal did not dispute that account and decided to suspend the fourth grader.”

WSOC adds - the school says it can’t go into detail about a student’s suspension, but confirmed Lockett was suspended for “inappropriate behaviour”. Whatever the case may be - a writer for Gather says the whole thing is ridiculous.

“Sexual harassment is a serious breach of personal space and respect but sometimes it seems that term is thrown about frivolously. In fact, the case of nine-year-old Emanyea Lockett seems to be just that - frivolous and stupid.”

While anchors for Fox News’ Fox & Friends say - c’mon, crushing on teachers is part of growing up.  

ALISYN: “So I bet at 9-years-old Dave Briggs, that you may have called a pretty teacher pretty or hot or something in school...”
DAVE: “Mrs Bonns. She was hot!”

And a writer for Truth Dive thinks the real kicker is the fact that Lockett got into trouble after being overheard during a private conversation.

“The highlight of the issue is that the boy was not saying anything to the teacher; he just spoke to his friend commenting on his teacher’s beauty... Also, it was not that teacher whom the boy commented, [who] complained to the Principal.”

But a writer for Hot Air says - the punishment may have been a little harsh, but maybe it’s setting an example...

“It’s probably not a good habit to get into. While the word ‘cute’ is not really offensive, it is a rather personal remark for a child to make about their elders.”

According to the school district’s code of conduct - “disruption of school” is punishable by five days out-of-school suspension.