A Boston Public Schools teacher was rushed to the ER Friday morning following an attack by a student wielding a chair at the Mel King South End Community School. Boston Police responded after the school staff reported the assault at approximately 8:15 a.m., the Boston Herald reported.
According to the Herald, the violent outburst began when the student, notably agitated upon arrival at school, failed to be calmed by staff members. The situation escalated, the student punched the teacher in the head and body, and then began swinging a chair which ultimately struck the teacher in the head, and middle back. The educator was attended to by the school nurse before being transported to Tufts Medical Center.
WHDH reported that the student involved in the assault was an 11-year-old boy. Following the incident, the student was sent home, and his mother was informed of the situation.
In a statement obtained by the Herald, Head of School Cindie Neilson addressed the incident, saying, "As you know, the Melvin H. King South End Academy, like all schools in the Boston Public Schools, focuses on fostering a safe environment for every community member." An investigation is underway to determine potential further disciplinary actions for the student, and City Councilor Ed Flynn has called for a re-evaluation of safety plans within Boston Public Schools.
Flynn told the Herald that incidents like this highlight the need for the city to "reconsider" the current public safety strategy and potentially reintegrate police involvement in school safety plans. Meanwhile, the namesake of the school, Mel King, was a civil rights icon whose legacy included fighting for the kind of safe education environment now shaken by such incidents. The school serves as a special education institution for students from kindergarten through 12th grade and is part of Boston Public Schools' system committed to safety for students and staff alike.
