US: Teacher's aide seen masturbating during Zoom class with kids
A teacher's aide in Maryland, United States was seen masturbating during a Zoom call with eighth-graders. Marc Schack, an assistant for special education students at Shady Grove Middle School in Gaithersburg, has, however, contended he was unaware that his self-love session had been captured on the virtual call until being interviewed. Here are more details on this.
What is Schack's video all about?
A 13-second-long clip - that has since surfaced on social media - shows Schack gazing at his screen before standing up, taking a few steps away, and beginning to pleasure himself. His name had appeared on the screen as the host of the Zoom call. A few seconds after that, another name appeared replacing him as the moderator, reports say.
I thought I was logged out, says Schack
Schack insists he thought that the online class had ended. "I thought I was logged out when class was over," he told the Bethesda Magazine. "I had no clue that Zoom was still on. Why would I do that? That's my job. I had no clue that Zoom was on. I mean, that's just crazy behavior," he added.
He has been placed on an administrative leave
Schack, who has been associated with Montgomery County Public Schools for 21 years, also runs Pirate Magic - a business that throws "pirate parties" where he plays a character named "Captain Silly Bones." He said he has since been placed on an administrative leave. He insisted his actions were "just a mistake." "I am only human...It was my bad."
'I'm not a pervert or anything like that'
District officials called Schack earlier this week to inform that he was being put on leave. "Maybe they were looking to see if I had any criminal misbehavior or anything like that," he said. Schack claims he was unaware of the footage until Wednesday. "I am not a pervert or anything like that, you know (sic)," he said.
A district spokesperson confirmed probe against Schack
"Per our procedures, we do not release the names of staff members that are under investigation," district spokesperson Gboyinde Onijala said in a statement. "Local authorities were informed and are investigating as well."