School Climate & Safety

Hospitalized Teacher Still Cares For Student

By Caroline Cournoyer — December 03, 2010 1 min read
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If this isn’t the sign of a teacher who truly cares for his students, I don’t know what is...

After one of his former students assaulted him, Jeffery Slattery has to have his jaw wired shut. “He started cussing at me and, whack! On the second punch, I felt my jaw crack,” he said.

But the Baltimore city teacher remains concerned for the student, according to WBAL. “He doesn’t need to be locked up,” Slattery said. “He needs help.”

The 14-year-old student had assaulted him twice before—once pushing him up against a chalkboard and once hitting him in the head with a watch. Slattery told WBAL he reported both incidents to the school system, but nothing happened.

This time, however, the student was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, WBAL reports.

“I am angry at this child, and he does need to suffer the consequences for his actions, but I am going to be putting a child in jail, possibly ruining his life, when this child needs help,” Slattery said, noting that the student is smart and has potential.

Slattery is currently in the hospital facing major surgeries on his eye socket and jaw.

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A version of this news article first appeared in the Teaching Now blog.