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Substitute Teacher Threatens Third Graders with Violence
Being a substitute teacher, especially on your first day, can be quite the challenge. But there are lines you just should not cross—like threatening a room full of third graders with violence. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what occurred recently in Florida.
A 61-year-old substitute teacher in Volusia County, who was just starting her teaching journey at Turie T. Small Elementary School, allegedly told her class that she would allow a “bad man” to come in and “shoot them between the eyes” if they didn’t behave. Yes, you read that right. Just hours into her first day, she reportedly dangled her keys in front of the students, warning them that if they didn’t settle down, she would let someone in to harm them.
Every single child in the classroom shared the same harrowing story. Unsurprisingly, the substitute was promptly removed from the classroom and escorted off the premises. A spokesperson for the school district, Jane Matthews, mentioned that the teacher had a clear background check and had previously worked without any issues in after-school care. However, they could not fathom the “extreme lack of judgment” displayed in this incident. In Florida, a high school diploma, three days of training, and a clear background check are all that’s required to step into a classroom—yikes!
As parents, we’re already navigating tough conversations about safety and violence with our kids, and this situation only complicates that. How do you explain something like this to a child? The idea that someone meant to guide them could resort to threats of violence is deeply troubling. It’s crucial that this teacher faces consequences that prevent her from ever being near students again. Yet, with such minimal training requirements, we might have to brace ourselves for more incidents like this.
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In summary, a substitute teacher in Florida created a distressing situation by threatening her third-grade class with violence, leading to her removal from the school. This incident raises serious questions about the training and judgment of individuals entering the teaching profession.