A Gwen Liz High School teacher is tonight on suspension for hitting one of his own students. Reports are that yesterday a teacher at the high school was in the class of 2W when he heard an offensive word, which caused him to hit a student who he believed was the one who uttered the word.
Since morning numerous phone calls have come into our newsroom about the incident, some concerned parents said they were told that Rowland was badly beaten and was taken away in an ambulance.
But, according to the principal, those allegations are way off mark, although the student was indeed hit, said Principal Lorna McKay:
Lorna McKay, Principal, Gwen Liz H.S.
"Yesterday about 2:30 a child was brought into the office and he was crying so I ask him what has happen and he said that a teacher had hit him. I called on the teacher and found out what had happened. Apparently the child had said something, some name that he had called and the teacher got annoyed and hit him."
Andrea Polanco
"Well several reports reach our station saying that the teacher punched the student and choked him. Did the student say how the teacher hit him?"
Lorna McKay, Principal, Gwen Liz H.S.
"He said that the teacher pushed him against the wall cause I had him write a report and he also said that the teacher pushed him on the ground. So far as any ambulance coming here as you have indicated to me earlier - there was no ambulance. The child's parents was called in, the teacher is now on suspension pending an investigation from the board."
Andrea Polanco
"Principal, had you had a chance to talk to the other students? What was their reaction?"
Lorna McKay, Principal, Gwen Liz H.S.
"Yes, it was in a class and the students were given incident report forms to write the report as to what has happened. The counselor has spoken with them and they were frightened because that is not a normal behavior coming out of an educator. So they were frightened and we are dealing with that part through counseling."
Andrea Polanco "When the child's parents came, what did they say?"
Lorna McKay, Principal, Gwen Liz H.S.
"The father came because I called him in the evening after the incident and he said that he will take care of whatever happens. He would not press charges. Apparently the father and the mother are not living together so the mother came this morning and now she was informed that whatever you want to do you can do."
Andrea Polanco
"So the child is safe and well here back to school."
Lorna McKay, Principal, Gwen Liz H.S.
"Right the child is at school. The child was not bleeding as far as I know because he was sitting in my office writing a report. He didn't indicate any sort of pain or anything to me because I was questioning him so he is in school."
We have been unable to locate the student and his family for a comment but so far no word has been given if charges will be pressed against the teacher. For now the teacher remains on suspension and his fate will be decided by the Board of Directors tomorrow.
