BENTON, Ark. (KTHV) - An elementary teacher in Benton has been suspended after school surveillance videos show her grabbing then pushing the student against a wall.
According to Jeff Rodgers, the 10-year-old boy's father, his son was told to go out in the hallway for misbehaving. When he refused that's when Angie Grant Elementary teacher Rebekah Bennett grabbed the student and led him out into the hall.
In the video, Angie Grant Elementary teacher Rebekah Bennett grabbed the 10-year-old student by the arms, taking him out of the classroom and into the hall. Bennett then pushes the child against the wall where he then slides down to the floor to sit.
Rodgers said he is not happy with how the school board decided to discipline Bennett. The superintendent of the Benton School District claimed the plan was to fire the teacher for her actions, but left the decision up to the school board. Bennett was suspended without pay by the board until June 30, 2017.
The board also mandated that Bennett take two professional development courses and be evaluated by a professional counselor. Bennett would then have to provide the evaluation to the school board before she can return to the classroom.
In a statement, Bennett said the board said her response to the student "did not rise to 'just and reasonable clause' for termination."
Bennett also said the school district doesn't have any policy or training for teachers on how to handle aggressive students or students who may be a risk to themselves. She said her goal was to "prevent the child from fleeing and to get assistance from other staff."
"It is Mrs. Bennett's hope that this student gets the help he needs in an environment in which other students' physical and educational well-being are not at risk," the statement said.
Benton police consider this an open investigation. We will bring you more on this story as it develops.