Just saw this on the news...
Watching, I wondered what I would have done in a similar situation...pre-BJJ, throwing a punch probably would have been my first reaction when threatened with larger male backing me into a corner. After training though (especially since I don't train striking), I honestly think I may have gone for a takedown. The thought of seeing that on video though...a teacher taking down and choking out a student...the visual...I feel like the court decision would have turned out differently.
Watching, I wondered what I would have done in a similar situation...pre-BJJ, throwing a punch probably would have been my first reaction when threatened with larger male backing me into a corner. After training though (especially since I don't train striking), I honestly think I may have gone for a takedown. The thought of seeing that on video though...a teacher taking down and choking out a student...the visual...I feel like the court decision would have turned out differently.
8 comments:
You would probably only need the take down--but in a classroom, that could seriously hurt. There's more to this story. Don't you get the sense that this interaction was not the first between this teacher and student? If there were previous threats and nothing was done about it, then it is the school's fault. Teachers have the right to do their job in a safe environment. If a random person on the street approached her like this, no one would question her actions. They would applaud her. I know if I were her, I would have been terrified. What's worse is that no student came to her aid before it got to that point. Definitely more to this story, and this teacher and class, for whatever reason, do not have a good rapport.
There have been two times in my classroom when I have felt (slightly) threatened. They were nowhere near this intensity. This occurred when I asked the (male) individuals to leave the room and they refused. Both resolved themselves when the offender finally did leave. In one instance I was about to call security to have the student removed. However, I wondered what could happen in the time it would take me to call, and have, security respond. I was thankful it did not get to that.
Very true regarding the takedown. That's honestly where my confidence is right now, so I think that's where I'd end up, even though it might be a dangerous choice.
It really is difficult for me to imagine that that student approached the teacher at that intensity for the first time.
I was a little surprised too that none of the students did anything to pull him back until she hit him.
He stepped into her personal space and did not heed her warning to step back. He is in the wrong and she has every right to defend herself. (He IS BIGGER than her.) It looks like the kids planned that, after all, one of them was video tapping it.
I have to say there has to be a LOT to this story that wasn't captured on film. It's a shame when I start thinking that teachers need the same training cops get -- as I watched, I was thinking she was foolish for letting herself get backed into a corner like that, but then, how shameful that a teacher would need to know that. What's wrong with this boy? I'd love to know the backstory. And I'd love to hear from his parents...
I read more about the incident here:
http://www.theledger.com/article/20110603/NEWS/110609811
Here's some of the backstory:
The student licked a classroom window and left saliva, Tison said. Hadsock and another teacher asked the boy to clean the window, and he refused. Hadsock told him to go to the principal's office.
At that, the student launched a verbal assault, calling her a "f---ing c---" as he walked across the room toward her in what Hadsock felt was a menacing manner, Tison said.
The video picks up from there.
Not sure about the video being planned...people whip out their phones at the slightest hint of an incident these days. From the information presented though, I think she was 100% within her rights. Like you said, Georgette, I'm curious to see what's being said on the student's side.
I am a teacher and honestly, with this child it all depends whether or not this student is a Regular Ed, student or if he is a student that has an IAP/IEP, if he's the second then it's going to be difficult to have this child corrected in a satisfactory method (in my opinion expulsion).
What always shocks me in video's like these... where people are being threatened or attacked... and there are 10+ people standing around recording it... but no one helping. What the heck is wrong with people these days?!
Anyhow - I have a friend who teaches, he is a man though, and a purple belt... so I am sure wasn't really much of a factor for him.. However, what happened to him was he had asked a student to stop doing something, the student refused and got in his face. Thankfully before he had to take action another teacher saw what was happening and came to his aid, but he said, "I was getting ready to take his ass down and hold him there."
Aside from take down injuries, I think taking down and restraining would be the best course of action.. at least for someone who knows they can do it.
Poor teacher... like G said... It is a shame that teachers might need to know these things.
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