Parents demand the termination of a teacher who took extreme measures in dealing with a disruptive student at Smithfield High School in North Carolina, USA. The incident involved 11-year-old Brady Webster, who was causing trouble in class when his teacher, Dawn Felix, reached her breaking point. In a moment of frustration, she resorted to duct-taping Brady’s mouth shut to silence him.
In a panic, Brady took a picture of himself with his mouth taped and sent it to his mother, Catherine Webster, seeking guidance. Outraged and concerned, Catherine demanded an explanation from the school and sought accountability for the teacher’s actions. She admitted being a strict mother but insisted that the teacher had never informed her of any significant behavioral issues with her son before, or she would have intervened earlier.
North Carolina English teacher resigns after 'covering mouth of boy, 11, with heavy duty TAPE to stop him talking in class'
Brady Webster, 11, sent a selfie to his mom Catherine on Feb 14 which showed him with his mouth taped shut with multiple layers of painter's tape pic.twitter.com/vww1x0VnJd
— News News News (@NewsNew97351204) March 23, 2023
Although teaching can be a challenging profession, it doesn’t justify the teacher’s excessive actions that not only punished the student but also subjected him to humiliation in front of his peers. Following a brief investigation, the school authorities promptly dismissed Dawn Felix for her unprofessional conduct, which was deemed unsuitable for an educator.
This incident raises questions about appropriate disciplinary methods in schools and the importance of effective communication between teachers and parents. As readers, have any of you ever encountered a similar situation, where disciplinary measures crossed the line and warranted serious consequences?