# Teacher assaults student that uses a racial slur against him **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106 "2018-11-07T00:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/21 "2018-11-07T03:45:36Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Teachers can’t hit students. Period. Full Stop. > > Old dude should be facing jail time. Yep,. Used to be somewhat normal from the stories I hear. I’m glad we’re in a place where this shit is (mostly) not tolerated. ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/22 "2018-11-07T03:52:25Z")
Good. Beat the little shit to death. One less fucking racist in the world. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/23 "2018-11-07T04:03:58Z")
Guy should be thrown in prison and the key thrown away. What the actual fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/24 "2018-11-07T04:04:22Z")
Teachers should not be hitting students. Especially in a case like this, where the teacher apparently paused between the inciting incident and when he began hitting the students. This, to me, shows that the teacher didn’t just “snap”. That said, the student was also very wrong. He threw something at a teacher, he seriously insulted him, and he was generally disruptive and disrespectful. The teacher should have reported the student and the student should have immediately been removed from class, to be followed up with a prolonged suspension. At this point, given what actually happened, the teacher should also be looking at a prolonged suspension. Whether either punishment should go further, with the student being expelled or the teacher being fired, would involve knowing more information that I don’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/25 "2018-11-07T04:46:32Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > As **nearwildheaven** pointed out, this is actually a much less draconian attitude than prevailed fairly recently. Corporal punishment for “troublemakers”, especially ones who got physically aggressive in any way with teachers, was formerly such a routine feature of schools that a grown-man teacher beating up a 14-year-old boy would be automatically **assumed** to be justified. I went to parochial school including high school in the Bronx in the 1950s and 1960s. Corporal punishment, particularly by the Christian Brothers who ran my high school, was standard and accepted. But it consisted of maybe a smack in the back of the head to a kid who wasn’t paying attention in class, or for more serious offenses, a whack with a paddle on the butt. But an adult teacher beating up a 14-year-old kid in this fashion would _not_ have been “routine” in any circumstances. Putting a kid in the hospital for throwing a baseball would have been way, way off the charts. I’m sure a lay teacher would have been fired for such a thing, and I’m pretty sure even a brother would have been removed from the staff. Corporal punishment is different from beating someone up. Even fifty years ago something like what is described in the OP would have been beyond the pale. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/26 "2018-11-07T05:12:40Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Teachers can’t hit students. Period. Full Stop. > > Old dude should be facing jail time. Yes. The kid should have to apoligize to the teacher, and the teacher should spend a couple of years in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/27 "2018-11-07T05:33:14Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong but corporal punishment wasnt just wildly beating students with your fists right? They had to have certain rules and guidelines to both make it seem legit and also to teach other students a lesson. Corporal punishment is illegal in California. California Education Code 49001 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/28 "2018-11-07T05:54:58Z")
> [@ohiomstr2](#): > > The student was wrong to throw the baseball and probably should be charged with assault. > [@Colibri](#): > > But an adult teacher beating up a 14-year-old kid in this fashion would _not_ have been “routine” in any circumstances. Putting a kid in the hospital for throwing a baseball would have been way, way off the charts. The kid threw a basketball. > [@the WaPo](#): > > A cellphone video shows the teenager refusing, then throwing a basketball at the teacher > **[A teacher allegedly beat up a student who called him the n-word. Now he’s a...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/11/06/teacher-beat-up-student-who-called-him-n-word-now-hes-gofundme-hero/?utm_term=.d55eddba6c83)** > > A California music teacher was arrested for allegedly assaulting a student who used racist slurs. Supporters raised $135,000 for him. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/29 "2018-11-07T06:07:08Z")
This is a situation where IMO both participants are blatantly in the wrong. I do admit that I feel some sort of satisfaction that a racist little shit was pasted to the floor for being racist, but at the same time, by his TEACHER? That’s very wrong. I have no clue what ought to be done, but I do think the decision has to take into account its own potential later ramifications. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/30 "2018-11-07T07:22:43Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I like how we’re at a point where a grown man beating up a 14 year old boy is being asked if it’s justified. > > We’re going down the same path when that pro-Israeli reporter got sexually assaulted by Palestinian protestors and people on message boards were claiming she deserved it for not being sympathetic to their plight. If you’re throwing baseballs, you started it. I cannot condone the teacher’s actions, but I hope the youth learned a valuable lesson, as well - don’t start shit if you can’t finish it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/31 "2018-11-07T07:47:21Z")
Sounds like this wasn’t his [first incident](https://atlantablackstar.com/2018/11/05/hes-a-wonderful-teacher-students-defend-band-director-arrested-for-assaulting-student-who-went-on-racist-tirade/) with students. They think it was a set up to get him fired. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/32 "2018-11-07T08:25:58Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > …I hope the youth learned a valuable lesson, as well - don’t start shit if you can’t finish it. You think we should be teaching kids that violence is okay provided you follow through and finish the other guy off? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/33 "2018-11-07T09:33:28Z")
Violence is never the answer. Beyond that, I mean, I _understand_ “fighting words” - I’d be more sympathetic if this happened in e.g. a bar - but this was way over any line. Teachers act _in loco parentis_, there’s never any call for a teacher to hit a student in lieu of discipline. This doesn’t mean the student shouldn’t _also_ be expelled, regardless of any consequences for the teacher, though. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/34 "2018-11-07T09:39:00Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > You think we should be teaching kids that violence is okay provided you follow through and finish the other guy off? That’s quite the non-sequitur you’ve posted; congratulations! It is possible for the teacher’s violent reaction to have been wrong AND to have provided a valuable lesson to the young man about what violence, that he sought to provoke, can be like: sudden, brutal and not at all pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/35 "2018-11-07T09:39:25Z")
What the student said is irrelevant, the throwing of the basketball (at the teachers legs) is irrelevant. The correct response to any of the above is not, “punch 14 year boy in the face repeatedly, drag him to the ground and kick him” It is clearly a violent assault on a child and should be prosecuted as such. The 14 year should be subjected to whatever sanctions the school has at its disposal but the blame for the violence is 100% on the adult, “professional” teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/36 "2018-11-07T09:40:19Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > That’s quite the non-sequitur you’ve posted; congratulations! > > It is possible for the teacher’s violent reaction to have been wrong AND to have provided a valuable lesson to the young man about what violence, that he sought to provoke, can be like: sudden, brutal and not at all pleasant. You’re right they should have tied the kid to the desk and sodomized him with a plunger to teach him a lesson. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/37 "2018-11-07T09:42:39Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > You’re right they should have tied the kid to the desk and sodomized him with a plunger to teach him a lesson. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/38 "2018-11-07T10:11:53Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Violence is never the answer. Beyond that, I mean, I _understand_ “fighting words” - I’d be more sympathetic if this happened in e.g. a bar - but this was way over any line. Teachers act _in loco parentis_, there’s never any call for a teacher to hit a student in lieu of discipline. It it was a Bar, I would say the fucker deserved the ass kicking he got. But this, its literally the teachers job description to teach juveniles how to act in society. If the students are acting basely, its the teachers fault. No matter how much posters like **Kimstu** and **Snowboarder Bo** might try to find excuses. > [@](#): > > This doesn’t mean the student shouldn’t _also_ be expelled, regardless of any consequences for the teacher, though. Normal school disciplinary actions should be taken. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/39 "2018-11-07T11:55:45Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Normal school disciplinary actions should be taken. Sure, maybe suspension, but I’m assuming unambiguous assault and racist language is an expulsion-level offence, of course (here, the latter would be outright _criminal_) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2018, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106/40 "2018-11-07T12:18:40Z")
The baseball/basketball distinction is very important. If it had been a baseball, then we’re potentially talking about lethal force. And it’s well-established in law and society that if someone, _anyone_, uses lethal force against you, any force you use in response is justified. A basketball wouldn’t be lethal force, and so some proportionality is required in the response. But it’s still assault. Did the teacher reasonably believe that the assault consisted entirely of the thrown ball, or that the student was going to continue? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-assaults-student-that-uses-a-racial-slur-against-him/824106.md?page=3)