It turns out “peer mediation” looks a little different to some. A Florida middle school teacher found herself trading her classroom for a jail cell after allegedly trying to crowd-source a battery on a talkative sixth grader.
Judith Clark, 64, was arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office following what we can only assume was a masterclass in classroom management on May 13 at Lee Middle School in Bradenton. She has been charged with child abuse without great bodily harm, proving that “free speech” isn’t the only thing with consequences in middle school.
According to sheriff’s deputies, Clark was losing a battle against a male student who simply would not shut up during instruction. Rather than relying on classic moves like detention or a call home, Clark decided to take a poll, asking the room, “who wants to slap him?”…