Watch CBS News

Union President: Paterson Teacher Allegedly Assaulted By Student 'Not In Any Shape' To Return To Work

PATERSON. N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- There is a debate in Paterson over whether a 62-year-old teacher who was allegedly assaulted by a student in a dispute over a cellphone last week is ready to head back to class.

Paterson Education Association President Peter Tirri said the assault happened last Tuesday at John F. Kennedy High School after the teacher asked to hold a student's cellphone until the end of class.

Union President Says Paterson Teacher Allegedly Assaulted By Student 'Not In Any Shape' To Return To Work

Students are allowed to keep their cell phones in class for education purposes, but teachers can take them away and return them if they're caught using them for other purposes, WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported on Saturday.

Video of the incident shows the 16-year-old student grabbing the teacher from behind and slamming him to the ground as other students looked on, 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet reported.

"He said he had injuries to his hand, his lower back, his head and his shoulder," Tirri said.

The district's doctors have cleared the teacher to go back to work, but Tirri said the association has a different position.

"I want his doctors to clear him rather than the district itself," Tirri said. "He was not in any shape even yesterday to go back to work."

The association is going to file a grievance about the incident and Tirri said he's meeting with the superintendent Friday afternoon, Granet reported.

"This was a very upsetting incident and certainly one that we took seriously as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority," school spokesperson Terry Corallo said in a statement. "This district has worked extremely hard to provide a safe and caring environment for our students and our staff, and with 54 schools in the district, we have succeeded in this area."

"The Superintendent feels very confident in the leadership team at the four high school academies inside this building (over 2,000 students) and knows that they will continue to work aggressively to ensure that the JFK building is a safe place for teachers to teach and for students to learn," the statement read.

The freshman was charged with third-degree aggravated assault and suspended from school.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.