According to Times-Call, physical education teacher Karen Smith is on paid administrative leave, following allegations of assault on a student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Photo: GIPHY

Smith works at Angevine Middle School, which is part of Colorado's Boulder Valley School District. Following the spread of the #TakeAKnee movement, the school instituted a policy that said students could either sit or stand for the pledge.

Local police were called to the school following the incident; Smith will remain on leave until the department's investigation is complete.

According to FOX Denver, the Lafayette Police Department is specifically investigating what Smith did to "make the child stand." The exact nature of the alleged assault is unknown at this time.

Boulder Valley School District spokesman Randy Barber declined to comment on the occurence beyond reiterating that it is the district's practice to allow students to sit or stand during the pledge; he called the incident a "personnel matter."

The district sent out a letter addressed to the students' families, confirming that a substitute teacher will stand in for Smith, while the investigation proceeds.

"We are dedicated, as always, to supporting our students and ensuring that we have qualified educators working with them during their physical education time," the statement read.

Karen Smith

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