PA: Sharon teacher says student punched, bit him

NOTE: This all started because a special education teacher "took issue" with the "language" one special education student had used; "language" that could be directly related to the child's disability.

The special education teacher escalated the situation. Instead of ignoring the "language" and continuing to teach, or trying any other type of intervention that *should* have been included in this "special education student's" behavioral intervention plan (which the child should have had by law), the teacher gave the child the attention he sought, thus positive reinforcing this negative behavior.

This "special education teacher" then threatened to take the child to the principal's office because of "language," and when the kid refused to comply, he "tapped him on the arm."

He then reports the child "jumped up out of his seat" and then alleged that the student "pushed him and punched him," leading to the teacher physically restraining him...over "language" he, the teacher, took "issue with."

This special education student then BIT the teacher to get away, when the teacher restrained him. Over inappropriate language that could have been directly related to the child's disability. Yes, it bears repeating.

What's really telling is that "NO OTHER WITNESSES TESTIFIED." Just the special education teacher. Not other students in the classroom who witnessed what happened, not the principal, not the two others who ran into the room while the teacher was rolling around on the floor with this kid...NO OTHER WITNESSES. Anyone else see a problem with this?

Because this "special education teacher" couldn't get off his ego trip, this kid was ARRESTED and charged with assault, and most likely WILL get prison time because of this....Is this REALLY the system we want for our children?

Published: Saturday, January 10, 2009

The teacher testified that a student punched and bit him.

STAFF REPORT

SHARON, Pa. — A student who’s charged with aggravated assault over an altercation with a teacher had his case sent from district to common pleas court.

Nicholas Sawyers, 18, of Irvine Avenue, is free meanwhile on $7,500 bond after his arrest Dec. 22 at Sharon High School.

Police arrested him after he was accused of punching teacher Paul Torr and then biting him on the wrist.

Torr is a special education teacher and is also the school’s athletic director.

In testimony at a preliminary hearing Friday before Senior District Magistrate Henry Russo, Torr said his confrontation with Sawyers happened around 11 a.m. in a computer room on the school’s third floor.

He said he took issue with language Sawyers used when Sawyers asked other students in the room to be quiet.

When he told Sawyers to watch his language, Torr said, Sawyers swore at him.

When Torr asked Sawyers his name, he said, Sawyers told him it was none of his business, swearing at him again.

Torr said he told Sawyers to get up because they were going to the principal’s office, but Sawyers refused and kept swearing at him.
He said he tapped Sawyers on his arm, and Sawyers jumped out of his seat.

Torr testified Sawyers ended up pushing him three times, then punched him in the cheek.

After the punch, Torr said, he grabbed Sawyers in a bear hug and pulled him to the floor, where he restrained him until two school principals and the superintendent entered the room.

At some point while he was being restrained, Sawyers bit Torr’s wrist, Torr testified, and broke the skin.

He was treated at Sharon Regional Hospital. He was given a tetanus shot and his cheek was X-rayed, he said.

Under questioning by Sawyers’ defense attorney, Jarrett Whalen, Torr said he remained as calm as he could during the confrontation, because he thought it was important to try to diffuse the situation as it was escalating.

There were no other witnesses who testified.