In Indiana, Jimtown High School has terminated Mike Hosinski, a teacher, for allegedly slapping a student on Friday.
According to ABC, a release from Baugo Community Schools stated Hosinski questioned the student about their school attire, and the escalated argument continued into the hallway.
Surveillance footage shows the Jimtown teacher grabbing the student by the bookbag and forcing them into a wall while pointing his finger at them- then slapping them with his hand. The student dropped to the floor as Hosinski attempted to walk them down the school hall.
According to KansasCity, Hosinski has been banned from school property as the investigation continues.
“The slap caused the student’s head to strike the wall; the student suffered visible injuries,” the school district said in a news release. “Medical staff immediately treated the student.”
Indiana Department of Child Services and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office further investigate the incident and surveillance footage.
“The safety of students attending Baugo Community Schools is our highest priority and greatest responsibility,” the district said. “When anyone, including a teacher, undermines that priority and responsibility, swift action must and will be taken to safeguard Jimtown students. Anything less cannot be tolerated.”
In a second statement release, the district shared that despite the incident, Hosinski was granted his full retirement pension after 40 years of teaching at Jimtown and was approved during the Jan. 10 board meeting.
According to WSBT, after Friday’s altercation, Hosinski requested his retirement would go into effect immediately. In support of Hosinski’s immediate retirement and pension request, a petition was created on Change.org, and the petition received more than 1,300 signatures. On the other hand, some parents argued that Hosinski should not retire with a pension and receive more repercussions.
“Whether he didn’t or did what he is being accused of should not (cost) him his tenure and retirement over one bad incident, especially after all he has invested in the 40 years of teaching,” a parent said in the petition.