After his ROTC instructor left Maritime Industries Academy, senior Marcus Bernard reminded the principal the program needed a new teacher. That?s when Principal Marco Clark put teenage Bernard in charge.
Clark told Bernard that he needed only two classes to graduate before he could take over the program at the naval-themed high school in Baltimore.
But Clark abruptly resigned last month amid allegations ofletting a student graduate without completing all the course requirements.
“Dr. Clark wouldn?t let us compete in drill meets because he didn?t want people to know what he was doing was illegal,” Bernard said.
Bernard alleges that Clark spent government money designated for the ROTC program on other school expenses ? including $17,000 slated for uniforms ? and also took Navy-donated computers away from the program to use in other classrooms.
“My students got upset. I got upset. I lost morale in classes,” Bernard said.
“It got to the point where it destroyed my entire program. Then they booted me and told me, ?Don?t come into the building,? because they didn?t want students to see me.”
Tonja Evans, whose son took Bernard?s class, said she is upset a qualified instructor was not put in charge. Bernard led the program from September 2006 to January 2007 but didn?t receive his diploma until June 2007, she said.
School system officials declined to comment on Clark?s departure, saying it is a personnel matter.
Evans? son, Camerron Evans, 17, was told he couldn?t return to school because it is unsafe after other students learned his mother wrote letters to complain about Bernard.
“I would like to go back to school but I don?t think that?s going to happen until the truth gets told,” Camerron Evans said.
James Williams, a parent activist, called the academy?s naval program a fraud.
“The general concept of a child teaching a class … it?s misleading students and parents about the mission.”
