Community Rallying Around Teacher Who Got In Fight With Student (VIDEO)

A cellphone video from inside Santa Monica High School in California is causing worldwide debate over just who is charge of the classroom. Mark Black, a longtime teacher and coach allegedly caught a teen with drugs, which lead to a physical altercation when Black put his hands on the student.

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Black was suspended after the incident, however the community began to rally around the popular teacher, claiming that he was just doing his job and the superintendent Sandra Lyon quickly apologized for comments she made that may have been an incorrect pre-judgement.

“There is concern that my statement reflected a pre-judgment of the teacher’s conduct prior to completion of an investigation,” she said. “There is also concern about my failure to address the conduct of one or more students who were involved in the incident.  In retrospect, I understand how my statement has created these concerns.  I apologize …”

Angry parents had flooded Lyon with emails and letters indicating their support for Black, castigating her and claiming that the teacher in the video was a hero. Thousands of people liked a Facebook page called “We Support Coach Black of Samohi” and signed a petition to have the man reinstated.

Santa Monica police announced yesterday the arrest of an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old in connection to the altercation. The investigation has given the impression that Black may have been simply defending himself from a violence.

School board member Oscar de la Torre said. “It’s a huge controversy when teachers put their hands on students. From me knowing Mr. Black personally — he was a former teacher of mine — I know him to be a fair person.”


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