Georgia high school teacher hospitalized after brutal attack by student: ‘We need zero tolerance’
Authorities in Rockdale County, Georgia are reviewing video that has gone viral after a student’s assault on a teacher sent the longtime educator to the hospital.
The video shows an altercation between a student and a teacher identified in a GoFundMe as English language teacher Tiwana Turner in a classroom at Heritage High School on January 26. An argument escalated into a physical assault when the student opened the classroom door on Turner and then began punching her.
The attack continued into the hallway, where the 27-year-old teacher was dragged to the ground and repeatedly beaten, resulting in her being hospitalized. The GoFundMe account said she is unable to walk after knee and leg injuries, including a broken leg.
Turner’s recovery will include “extensive rehabilitation and therapy,” and she will be out of work “shortly,” the report said.
CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH AFTER BATTLE FINISHED SHOT: POLICE
A student is seen attacking Rockdale County Public School teacher Tiwana Turner after Turner attempted to correct the student’s behavior.
(Video Screengrab/WAGA)
According to GoFundMe, Turner covered another class for a colleague who was absent that day. When she attempted to redirect a student’s “off-task behavior,” she was physically assaulted by the student.
The student is a ninth grader and was charged with aggravated battery, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Verdaillia Turner, president of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, told Fox 5 Atlanta she was upset by the video and that incidents like this directly contribute to the nationwide teacher shortage.
“Students are out of control … there is no excuse for the violence … there is no excuse for children who come to our school on a daily basis and wreak havoc so that other students cannot learn,” she told the outlet.
She added that the biggest issue in the struggle to attract and retain teachers is environment – discipline issues within the classroom.
“If we search the internet and just google ‘student assault on teachers,’ we see numerous assaults across the country and it’s driving teachers out of the classroom,” Verdaillia said.
FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENS BODY-SLAMS POLICE OFFICER DURING FIGHT: ‘DOWNING DOWN’
Rockdale County Public Schools teacher Tiwana Turner is attacked by an unknown student after trying to correct the student in the classroom.
(Video Screengrab/WAGA)
Speaking to Fox 5, Verdaillia said she thinks the student and parents should be held accountable, describing what teachers deal with on a daily basis as a “state of emergency”.
“Right now we need zero tolerance,” she added.
In a statement to Fox 5, Rockdale County Public Schools said:
“RCPS does not tolerate student violence towards staff. Students who cause harm to other students or staff will be disciplined in accordance with our Student Disciplinary Code of Conduct and appropriately charged by law enforcement.”
A student is seen dragging Heritage High School teacher Tiwana Turner to the ground during a fight.
(Video Screengrab/WAGA)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
It is unclear what disciplinary action the student will face from the school or the school system.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Rockdale County Public Schools for more information.
