Let's call out the swat team every time a teenager comes in contact with a teacher.
I guess the crime rate is very low in South Florida plunging since I flew out yesterday morning so the cops have nothing better to do. And the Juvenile court judges are sitting sweating in their robes.

I would hope for judgment by school officials and the ability to differentiate between battery and a chest-bump.

The message has gone out to the kids, if you are going to get arrested make it worthwhile.

I can only imagine the names this teacher has earned for this incident. But the schools long ago lost all sense of proportion.

What's the alternative? Let's let them keep getting away with it and show them there's no such thing as consequences until they really hurt someone? Better to let them know you're serious before it gets worse, I would think.

tgd, are you an idiot?? or do you think disrespect is something ok to teach kids? if I ever talked back to a teacher when I was a kid, let alone touch one, my dad would have taught me a lesson or two. the same goes for my kids, thats why I have never had this problem.

I don't think it's idiotic to suggest the teacher overreacted. I just don't agree.

Rafael Olemeda your a REPORTER not a psychic medium. Don't create mental scenarios/images/pictures from your admittedly over imaginative mind. The fact you'd write an article about a topic so serious without knowing the facts in not just shameful it libels and defames at least one and possibly both of the individuals in your report. You first suggest that possibly the teacher was "threatening" the student and that the student responded in self-defense. You then call the teens actions an example of "pre-violent defiance". The teen was arrested for Battery. You understand there a BIG difference between the two?? You then commend the teacher for not retaliating with violence that might get them arrested, right after you declare the teen didn't really commit violence against the teacher. Make up your mind. Is there EVER a time that violence from a teacher toward a student IS justified. When might that be?? The bottom line is you should quit your job which puts you in the position of writing FACTS about people and events. Instead you should try your hand at fantasy novels where your imagination can entertain. Instead of being such a disgraceful detriment to the name "newspaper reporter". I suspect you've heard this before and will be hearing agin real soon...Your Fired!!

I hope they spell my name right on the unemployment check!

Well, if they don't...you can always imagine or create a scenario/image where they did!! Of course that will get your check cashed about as quickly as a reader could find value in what you wrote. I find it hard to believe that someone would work so hard to get into the position you have...and then waste it by writing so poorly and irresponsibly. I'm going to imagine a scenario where you do realize the errors of your way and I'm going to envision an image where you're deeply sorry and apologetic. Okay now you try!!

How about this: I imagine a scenario where we talk about the topic instead of about me.

If a student has physical contact with a teacher in a manner meant to physically intimidate, the line has been crossed and discipline needs to happen. I don't know if the police need to be called, but the suspension seems proper to me.

For those out there that don't think it is a big deal let me ask you this; would it be alright if you're having an argument with someone at Publix and they all of a sudden chest bump you? If you answered that's fine then I guess you probably don't see what the big deal is. However if you don't think that is acceptable then why would it be okay for a 17-year-old to do this to a teacher? The issues that teachers are expected to put up with are sometimes unbelievable.
99% of students are wonderful and pleasures to teach everyday. Even when my students show age appropriate defiance and attitude I am able to see their many positive attributes. But, I have had those few students over the years that seem impossible to control. I know these students probably have serious issues, such as difficult home lives or self control problems. But, as a teacher I received my degree in how to educate children. I sometimes wish I knew how to help more, but with such extreme issues I don't. And trust me there is no help from administration or any school guidance counselor. What is the answer to helping this students with such awful behavior problems and at the same time try to teach a room full of 25 other children?

I think this is a clear-cut issue. A student reacts to teacher direction with an aggressive physical act. This is aggression and it is wrong. The rest of the details are unimportant. It is never ok for a student to become physically aggressive to a teacher and vice-versa. If the teacher wants to press charges, he is legally entitled to do so.

As to Puck, I shouldn't even dignify your writing with a response. However, Rafael is not engaging in libel because he is not actually saying that they did this. He is imagining scenarios - he states that up front. Further, if you wish to appear educated, learn which you're/your to use.

This is really quite simple, No student should ever make contact with a teacher...Period!

No teacher should ever make contact with a student...Period!

There is no gray area here...In this instance, the correct outcome was achieved...Punk was arrested...Maybe he'll think before he flexes on someone again..