Student attacks teacher at William Knibb
WESTERN BUREAU — A 15 year-old student who yesterday attacked a male teacher at the William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny has been sent to the Cops Place of Safety in Hanover following the incident that took place along the school’s corridor.
Reports are that at about 10:30 am the teacher, who has worked at the school since last September, noticed that the boy was not in his classroom and instructed him to go to class. The boy, a third-form student who allegedly has a history of delinquency, refused, saying he had been told to leave the class.
The teacher did not believe the boy’s story and opted to escort him back to his classroom.
Reports are that when the two arrived in the vicinity of the classroom, the teen attacked the teacher, elbowing him and throwing punches.
The teacher allegedly responded by taking the boy to the staff room, where attempts were made to counsel him. However, that counselling session soon broke down and the youngster left the room.
But the incident did not end there.
A short time later he allegedly returned, armed with stones that he threw at the teacher, who was forced to run and dodge the missiles hurled at him along a corridor.
The fleeing teacher received a minor injury and a second teacher reportedly intervened and managed to restrain the boy.
Some time after 11:00 am the Falmouth police and the teen’s uncle were called in.
According to the police inspector who responded to the call from the school, they conducted interviews with staff members and it was revealed that the boy was troubled, noted for truancy and assault of other students. Only two months earlier, the inspector said, the youngster’s uncle had made a report against him.
After consultation with the school staff, a decision was taken to send the boy to a juvenile home.
“We thought the environment (at home and at school) was not suitable for him… He is now being taken to the Cops Place of Safety,” the inspector said.
School principal, Margaret Lee, refused to supply any details of the incident yesterday, and would only say that the matter had been dealt with.
“The school has dealt with whatever happened. I don’t have anything to tell you about news,” she brusquely told the Observer yesterday during a visit to the school.
