Teachers Aren't Supposed to Punch Students Back

A 37-year veteran teacher is accused of punching and throttling a 12-yea-old student. Scott Antwork, 58, teaches at PS 54 in Richmond Hill and Queens DA Richard Brown says Antwork "punched 12-year-old Edgar Lopez in the head with a closed fist, placed him in a choke hold and then grabbed the student's right arm and pushed him into a table." Two students say that Lopez first punched Antwork. The teacher has been "reassigned" and is charged with third-degree assault, second-degree harassment and child endangerment.

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By Jen Chung in News on June 27, 2008 8:27 AM

Comments [rss]

sonyactivision

"Scott Antwork" Enough said.

Snoopy

Why is it that the snarkie people here on this blog keep thinking that the father can not be found?

Oops I forgot.

GOP

I say closed fist strike to the kid's mother (and father, if he can be found).

Snoopy

Euthanize the kid. He wont grow up to be anything but an ex con. Take his mother and, if he can be found, his father with him.

west1

And what the the 12yr old kid get, a slap on the wrist? THAT's bs.

zodak

"that's some racist bullshit."

spoken like a bleeding-heart who has ZERO experience with violent 12 year old public school males.

Pharmer

He's 12 years old and in elementary school. He couldn't even graduate from the fifth grade.

garbnzgh

@speaker_chucker: "These animals need to be put down." that's some racist bullshit.

Spear_Chucker

Some of these "kids" most definitely need to be charged as adults. Let's not forget the Columbia grad student that was killed as a result of a 13 year old thug. These animals need to be put down.

eyekantspel

I generally agree that our teachers shouldn't be punching students, but under the circumstances --the kid hit the teacher in the face first, knocking his glasses off -- I wouldn't rush to judgment. How big was the 12 year old? What happened prior to the student striking the teacher?

There are 12 year old kids who are charged as adults in our criminal justice system for crimes, 12 year olds who rape and murder. I think more info is needed before deciding whether or not the teacher's response was justified.