Since when is teasing another student cause for a beat-down by a teacher? The answer should be NEVER, but in teacher Sherri Lynn Davis' world, if a child teases another, they just might end up needing medical care.
Isaiah Johnson, 13, who attends the Jamie's House Charter School in Houston was doing what many kids his age do: tease other students. One day last April, though, Isaiah's teasing episode turned into a nightmare for any kid. Davis, a 40-year-old science teacher at the school, witnessed Isaiah poking fun at a mentally challenged female student and decided she would handle it her way.
According to eye witnesses at the school, Davis backed the teen in to a corner amid laughter from fellow students, who thought the teacher would only reprimand him. Soon the laughter turned into gasps of horror as Davis began beating the student incessantly, punching, kicking and slapping the defenseless child. All the pint-size Isaiah could do was take the beating and lay on the ground helplessly.
Thankfully, fellow student Janiqua Johnson, also 13, captured the video of the beat-down on her cell phone. Students at the school say there were four or five other adult personnel who also witnessed the beating but were too afraid to intervene on the child's behalf.
Davis was placed on administrative leave after the incident and fired last Monday after officials viewed the video.
Sue Jones, a school spokesperson, was appalled after viewing the video. "It was horrifying. There's just no other word for that," she commented. According to Jones, school administrators are also investigating whether there were other employees present who witnessed the attack and did nothing to stop it.
Isaiah sustained a black eye, a knot on his head that is still present and several other bruises from the attack.
The Harris County sheriff's office has also opened an investigation surrounding the incident.
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wth! it looks like she was playing but what was she thinking.. u can't go putting your hands on other ppl kids. hell parents can't even put their hands on their own kids. the parent should press charges. that's good that they fired her assss 2.. now if only they'd do that 2 these damn women that sleep w/our children oh and men 2.
Thats right Ms. Davis, whip that azz he knows better. She reminds me of my elementary school teacher Ms.Collins, she didn't play either, those was the days of corporal punishment in school. After she whipped you she sent you to bible study the school had for the kids, so you can learn how to do right. Black teachers in those days acted like your parents, they had a vested interest in you, to make sure you didn't grow up and act a fool and go to prison. Black kids need a strong hand like Ms.Davis.
I'm getting sick of this Isaiah kid and his slimy manipulative lawyers grubbing for an easy cash handout. Maybe Davis doesn't have the temperament for that job. They fired her, she'll probably never be a teacher again, end of story. Did that kid even have a bruise? He's probably sustained more serious injuries from getting off the school bus.
"Sue Jones, a school spokesperson, was appalled after viewing the video. "It was horrifying. There's just no other word for that,""
Actually, I would just call it very unacceptable. It looked like horseplay to me. I bet it happens in hundreds of thousands of homes every day, and everybody is okay. It was not the proper way for the teacher to handle the situation, but it looks like play wrestling. I don't think that kid was in any actual danger.
@Oh Please- If you actually read the article like a 3rd grader would do, they would realize that it says that the kid has a black eye, a knot on his head, and bruises all over.
Now I will say this teacher was extremely out of line. A teacher should never put their hands on a student no matter the circumstances. I'm just tired of people making these horrible kids victims. He wasn't just sitting there one day taking notes and doing his work when she wailed on him. He was making fun of a mentally challenged child. His parents should have taught him better than that. He is not a victim. He should have received some form of punishment and it will be overlooked now because of the teachers actions. Which I feel is completely unfair to the mentally challeneged kid.
WTH? At first, I thought she was just rough housing w/ him, because I could hear laughter, but when the kicking and fist punches started, it became clear that this was serious. And no one,not even teachers, stopped it? The boy said on the tape that the teachers gathered around. This is unacceptable, that teacher along with the ones who just watched should be fired. I know the mother is filing criminal charges, but all of those teachers should be included. Doing "nothing" was another 'blow' to that boy.
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it" ~Albert Einstein~
Amen! My mamma would have took all the responsibility off that school and courts if that had been me or one of my brothers. Getting fired/criminal charges would look pretty good to that woman then.
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By: dvine on 5/13/2010 2:47PM
wth! it looks like she was playing but what was she thinking.. u can't go putting your hands on other ppl kids. hell parents can't even put their hands on their own kids. the parent should press charges. that's good that they fired her assss 2.. now if only they'd do that 2 these damn women that sleep w/our children oh and men 2.
bet he won't tease nobody else though.. lol..
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By: rh on 5/19/2010 4:14PM
Thats right Ms. Davis, whip that azz he knows better. She reminds me of my elementary school
teacher Ms.Collins, she didn't play either, those was the days of corporal punishment in school. After she whipped you she sent you to bible study the school had for the kids, so you can learn how to do right. Black teachers in those days acted like your parents, they had a vested interest in you, to make sure you didn't grow up and act a fool
and go to prison. Black kids need a strong hand like Ms.Davis.
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By: Oh please on 5/19/2010 11:37PM
I'm getting sick of this Isaiah kid and his slimy manipulative lawyers grubbing for an easy cash handout.
Maybe Davis doesn't have the temperament for that job. They fired her, she'll probably never be a teacher again, end of story. Did that kid even have a bruise? He's probably sustained more serious injuries from getting off the school bus.
"Sue Jones, a school spokesperson, was appalled after viewing the video. "It was horrifying. There's just no other word for that,""
Actually, I would just call it very unacceptable. It looked like horseplay to me. I bet it happens in hundreds of thousands of homes every day, and everybody is okay.
It was not the proper way for the teacher to handle the situation, but it looks like play wrestling. I don't think that kid was in any actual danger.
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By: Oh Please-Dumb on 5/23/2010 11:55PM
@Oh Please- If you actually read the article like a 3rd grader would do, they would realize that it says that the kid has a black eye, a knot on his head, and bruises all over.
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By: Jessica on 5/26/2010 10:39AM
Now I will say this teacher was extremely out of line. A teacher should never put their hands on a student no matter the circumstances. I'm just tired of people making these horrible kids victims. He wasn't just sitting there one day taking notes and doing his work when she wailed on him. He was making fun of a mentally challenged child. His parents should have taught him better than that. He is not a victim. He should have received some form of punishment and it will be overlooked now because of the teachers actions. Which I feel is completely unfair to the mentally challeneged kid.
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By: curiousmind68 on 5/13/2010 2:27PM
WTH? At first, I thought she was just rough housing w/ him, because I could hear laughter, but when the kicking and fist punches started, it became clear that this was serious. And no one,not even teachers, stopped it? The boy said on the tape that the teachers gathered around. This is unacceptable, that teacher along with the ones who just watched should be fired. I know the mother is filing criminal charges, but all of those teachers should be included. Doing "nothing" was another 'blow' to that boy.
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it"
~Albert Einstein~
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By: amy wilson on 5/15/2010 4:13PM
Amen! My mamma would have took all the responsibility off that school and courts if that had been me or one of my brothers. Getting fired/criminal charges would look pretty good to that woman then.
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By: Robyn on 5/17/2010 7:19AM
I agree. Those who did NOTHING should be fired as well.
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By: sandra on 5/19/2010 10:03PM
Yes, yes, yes curiousmind68. Perfect response -nice use of quote which could be applied to so many situations.
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By: ST on 5/27/2010 5:15PM
You are so right. The world is quite scary actually!
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