Texas Teacher Accused Of Calling 12-Year-Old Student A 'Terrorist' During Class

SUGAR LAND, Texas (CBSNewYork/AP) — A suburban Houston teacher was placed on administrative leave amid allegations that she called a seventh-grade student a "terrorist" during class.

At a news conference Friday, student Waleed Abushaaban said his class at Sugar Land's First Colony Middle School was watching a movie Thursday when, after he laughed at the film, his teacher said, "'I wouldn't be laughing if I was you.'"

When he asked why, the 12-year-old student said the teacher replied, "'Because we all think you're a terrorist.'" The student said his classmates taunted him afterward, making references to seeing a bomb, CBS2's Brian Conybeare reported.

"They were like 'oh I see a bomb' and they started all laughing and making jokes.... I was upset and I felt like I was put in the corner and like everybody was just looking at me," Waleed said.

Administrators have removed the English and Language Arts teacher from the classroom while they investigate the incident. The family said they want the educator permanently dismissed.

"Just because my son is a Muslim doesn't mean he is a terrorist. He's an American, he's as American as anybody else. He was born here, that's all he knows is how to be an American," Malek Abushaaban, Waleed's father, said.

"No religion should be targeted by and disrespected by any administrator on any school campus," community activist Quanell X said.

The Fort Bend Independent School District said it doesn't support the teacher's statements.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)