A North Carolina school is now dealing with the shock after a recent viral classroom video showed a student's assault on a teacher.
The minor is now under investigation and is possibly facing charges following the incident where he allegedly slapped his teacher several times during a widely shared video of a profanity-laden outburst in the classroom earlier this week.
Parkland High School Student Slaps Teacher
The student, whose identity remains undisclosed due to being a minor, confronted the teacher at Parkland High School in Winston-Salem, engaging in a violent altercation captured on social media.
In the video, the teacher appeared unruffled after the initial slap, though the student persisted with verbal aggression. Despite the loud impact, the teacher remained seated and seemingly unfazed. The teacher said, "Do you think that affected me anyway."
The minor then replied, "Want me to hit you again." The educator replied, "I don't want it." However, before he could finish her response, the minor had hit her again on the right side.
The second blow on the video seemed to knock her glasses off her face. The teacher, unidentified in reports, responded calmly, even as the student threatened further physical harm.
Despite the teacher's refusal and subsequent second slap, the educator's composed demeanor contrasted sharply with the escalating hostility from the student, who taunted and insulted her during the altercation.
Onlookers in the classroom, as captured by the recording, reacted with laughter to the assault, a response that drew condemnation from the school district.
The incident highlighted broader concerns, with the district reporting numerous instances of student violence against school staff in recent academic years. Laughter was heard from students behind the camera as the slaps occurred during the classroom assault.
According to reports, the school district documented 46 instances of students assaulting school staff within the past academic year. The school district issued a condemnation of the student's behavior, with Parkland High School Principal Noel Keener warning of impending disciplinary measures in addition to the criminal charges.
Keener emphasized that the behavior fell short of the school's expectations for its students and stated, "Please know this video is not reflective of our expectations of students at Parkland High School."
The school administration is collaborating with district staff to promptly address the issue and ensure such behavior is not tolerated within the school or district.
Meanwhile, teachers at the school expressed shock and dismay upon viewing a video depicting a middle-aged female colleague being subjected to repeated punches and abuse by a male student.
North Carolina School Community in Shock of the Assault
On Tuesday, a legal order for secure custody was issued against the boy, involving one charge of making threats and two counts of misdemeanor assault.
District Attorney Jim O'Neill clarified that, due to the nature of the charges being misdemeanors, they couldn't be elevated to adult court. However, he emphasized that students who assault teachers will face repercussions akin to those for assaulting law enforcement.
During a press briefing, O'Neill underscored the seriousness of such actions, stating, "We're committed to ensuring your safety at work," and warned against any physical aggression towards teachers.
The identities of the student and teacher remain undisclosed, though the video of the incident has garnered significant attention online. Despite efforts by the school to contain its spread, the footage has been viewed by over a million people.
Sheriff Kimbrough condemned the attack as "deplorable and outrageous," stressing the importance of respecting educators and maintaining order within the community.
Principal Noel Keener informed parents of impending disciplinary measures for the students involved, labeling the incident as "inappropriate and unsettling."
Superintendent Tricia McManus expressed support for the affected teacher and indicated that expulsion would be recommended during discussions at the upcoming school board meeting.
Jenny Easter of the Forsyth County Association of Educators criticized the handling of the incident, citing it as a contributing factor to the state's teacher retention challenges.
