Elderly Substitute Assaulted by Student

Houston, TX

A 15-year old student of Nimitz High School was arrested after assaulting an elderly substitute teacher.  The teacher had confiscated a cellphone from the student, and he repeatedly pushed her until she fell to the floor, whereupon he retrieved his phone.

Classmates recorded the assault on cellphone video.  The teacher was taken away by ambulance, but fortunately suffered only minor injuries.

Analysis
Schools and school district should take a hard look at the substitute teachers they have, their physical capabilities, and the types of classrooms in which they are placed.  While many schools are faced with teacher shortages, this will not be helped by stories like this. 

A school that has classrooms in which incidents like this can occur must begin work on improving their culture, and should start with a thorough risk assessment. 

Staying Alive teaches these skills for all areas of life, including schools.