Christina Ficara - All Headline News Staff Reporter

TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The Tribune-Star reported that a local substitute teacher put small pieces of tape across the mouths of first-graders because they would not stop talking. Sheryl Smith was fired by Vigo County schools officials after parents told them that she had taped six children's mouths at Fuqua Elementary School. "A substitute teacher used extremely poor judgment," said John Orr, director of human resources. Smith had put the tape on vertically, and it did not cover the children's mouths, although they could not talk.

Smith claims she didn't mean any harm, just wanted them to be quiet."That's something we don't tolerate in the Vigo County School Corporation," Orr said. "She is terminated ... she will not work for the corporation anymore." Smith, who often substituted for the class, said she taped the students' mouths in a playful way. "It was a little piece of Scotch tape," she said. "I was just joking with them. I think it's blown clear out of proportion." Orr contacted Vigo County Child Protective Services about what happened but believes the agency would not pursue it because no children were injured. None of the kids appeared upset in class, and the tape wasn't on very long, Smith said.