Georgia – In a deeply troubling incident that has rocked Georgia, a local middle school teacher resigned after a video surfaced showing him physically assaulting an 11-year-old student. The teacher, identified as B. Elder, was a faculty member at DeRenne Middle School and also served as a football coach.
The incident unfolded when the student, known only as TJ, confronted Elder about inappropriate comments the teacher allegedly made regarding his mother. According to TJ’s mother, identified as C. Russell, Elder had made unacceptable remarks, stating he “left his shoes at TJ’s mom’s house.” These comments prompted TJ to approach Elder and ask him to stop talking about his mother. Despite the student’s reasonable request, the situation escalated dramatically.
Surveillance footage from the classroom shows Elder grabbing TJ by the shirt and throwing him across the room. The young student was hurled onto desks before falling to the floor, which resulted in significant injuries including a concussion and multiple marks throughout his body. The distressing video prompted immediate outcry from TJ’s family and the community, leading to Elder’s resignation.
Russell expressed her disbelief and disappointment in the handling of the situation by the school authorities. She criticized the school for failing to protect her son and stated, “I just feel like they failed me. They let me down. It is heartbreaking. It causes a lack of trust in the school system. Something needs to be done.” She further emphasized the emotional and psychological impact the incident had on TJ, who is now frightened to return to school.
Russell is calling for more than just Elder’s resignation; she wants him held criminally accountable for his actions. “He needs to be placed in jail. He hurt my boy. I’m heartbroken because I wouldn’t do that to my child. His father wouldn’t do that to him. So, for [the teacher] to take the initiative to do that is sickening,” she stated.
Despite the severity of the incident, as of now, no lawsuits or criminal charges have been filed against Elder, leaving the family and community seeking further justice.
Following the incident, the county’s public school system reassigned Elder to an alternate location where he would have no interaction with students. Shortly thereafter, Elder submitted his resignation. The school district released a statement ensuring that the incident was isolated and reaffirming their commitment to student safety. “Please be assured that this was an isolated incident and we take matters like this extremely seriously. The safety and well-being of our student population are of the utmost importance to us, and we are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all,” the statement read.
This incident has sparked a broader discussion about the safety protocols in schools and the measures in place to protect students from abuse. Russell’s call for more thorough training and better vetting processes for teachers reflects a communal demand for systemic changes to prevent such occurrences in the future.
As the community rallies around TJ and his family, there is a clear message that such behavior by educators, entrusted with the care and development of children, is unacceptable and demands significant consequences beyond mere resignation.
