A shocking incident in Oklahoma has sparked outrage after a teacher was arrested for allegedly breaking a student’s collarbone during classroom ‘horseplay.’
Should teachers be behaving like this with children to begin with?
At a Glance
- A teacher at a middle school was arrested following an incident involving a student.
- The student sustained a broken collarbone during the incident.
- Parents demand reforms for better teacher accountability and student safety.
- Several school staff members have been placed on administrative leave.
Incident Details and Reaction
In an unfortunate event at John Marshall Middle School, Oklahoma, teacher Kiera Smith was arrested after allegedly wrestling a 13-year-old student to the ground, resulting in a broken collarbone. The incident, which occurred on November 21, has left the school community in shock, with parents questioning the safety and conduct of educators.
According to police reports, Smith picked up the student and slammed him to the ground during a science/advisory class. This action resulted in serious injury, which was later confirmed by x-rays at Mercy Hospital.
“Defendant Kiera Smith turned and grabbed victim lifting him off the ground and slammed him to the ground. This caused victim to break his collar bone,” Oklahoma City Police Department Detective Christian Hoehner reported.
‘She often play fights with students’: Teacher arrested after middle schooler suffers broken collarbone during ‘horse play’ https://t.co/a8uIAA1vaf
— Law & Crime (@lawcrimenews) November 27, 2024
Background and Previous Incidents
Smith, a former amateur football player, was no stranger to controversy, with a history of legal issues. In 2018, she faced charges related to a felony sexual battery case and later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery in 2019. This latest arrest marks the second time Smith has been under scrutiny for inappropriate conduct while at Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS).
“It appears that on Nov. 21 at 4:30 p.m., the [school resource officer] at John Marshall (Middle School) was notified by the principal that they needed to make an assault report. A student had gotten injured by one of the teachers. It sounds like there was some horseplay and wrestling going on in the classroom, and at some point during this the teacher was involved in it, and one of the students sustained a broken collarbone,” OKCPD Master Sgt. Gary Knight explained.
Following the incident, OKCPS placed Smith and several other staff members on administrative leave, emphasizing their cooperation with law enforcement and commitment to student safety. “As always, the safety and security of our students and staff is our No. 1 priority,” Crystal Raymond, OKCPS Director of Communications, stated.
Concerns for Student Safety and Calls for Reform
The situation has prompted both parents and educational authorities to demand reforms in teacher conduct and accountability measures. Parents are actively seeking information on what protective measures are in place to prevent similar events in the future, highlighting the importance of establishing stringent guidelines for educator behavior to ensure a safe learning environment for students.
“The victim asked Defendant Smith why she just did that. The defendant said, ‘I was gonna see what your response was going to be and it should have been this’,” OKCPD Detective Valari Homan recounted.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and calls for comprehensive oversight and reform in school policy are growing louder, underscoring a collective refusal to compromise on the safety and dignity of students in educational settings.
