Nov 27, 2008 10:39 am US/Eastern
Students Charged In Attack On Baltimore Teacher
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Five students are facing charges after attacking two teachers at a Northwest Baltimore high school.
CBS
Five students are facing charges after attacking two teachers at a Northwest Baltimore high school.
Gigi Barnett talked with the president of the Baltimore Teachers Union about the attacks.
There's been a string of violence in city schools in a matter of days. The first occurred last week at William H. Lemmel Middle School in Northwest Baltimore when police found Markel Williams, 15, lying in a pool of his blood, stabbed to death. Police arrested Timothy Oxendine, 14, for the murder.
Then Monday, Forest Park High School was on lockdown for hours after five students allegedly attacked a teacher. Another teacher tried to help and was beaten, too.
"It's almost every day where somebody is getting into a fight or you hear about someone bringing a gun up to the school or someone step to you with a problem," said Ashley Parham.
WJZ's media partner, the Baltimore Sun, reports that two of the students allegedly robbed one of the teachers days before and the fight was retaliation because that teacher reported the crime. Now the teacher wants out of the classroom.
"First he was robbed and now this incident of the whole attack has made him feel unsafe. He doesn't want to go back to that school and I certainly understand how he feels," said Marietta English, the BTU president.
English fears the problem is growing and urges parents to step in.
"This has to be a community and parental effort. Parents have to get involved and the community has to be involved," she said. "We cannot discipline their children when they need to do that."
City leaders say students bear some responsibility.
"I think since September, the events taking place have been minimal. Hopefully, we can move forward as we recess for this holiday to prepare young people when they come back to understand their responsibility," said Mayor Sheila Dixon.
Wednesday, there was another fight in school halls. This time, it was at Doris M. Johnson High School, formerly Lake Clifton High School. Police arrested and charged two students with second-degree assault after they beat up another student during a change of class.
City school leaders would not comment on camera about the latest attack but in a statement to
Eyewitness News, school spokeswoman Edie House said, "At this point, it's still early and today's incident is still under investigation."
The students involved in the attacks have not been identified.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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