A Georgia middle school teacher’s resignation has sparked outrage after he was captured on video tossing an 11-year-old student across a classroom and allegedly making inappropriate remarks about the child’s mother.
The disturbing incident has raised serious concerns about student safety and the conduct of educators in schools.
The altercation occurred at DeRenne Middle School, where teacher and football coach BeTreylin Elder confronted sixth-grader TJ in front of the class. According to TJ’s mother, Che’Nelle Russell, the situation escalated when her son approached Elder to address remarks the teacher allegedly made about her.
“I was told that he had a share of words that were inappropriate to TJ and that he had made some remarks about me, and my son was unhappy with it,” Russell told WTOC, a local news outlet.
Video footage from the classroom shows TJ standing up to Elder, asking him to “stop talking about my mom.”
What followed shocked not only the students in the room but also the broader community: Elder grabbed TJ by the chest, lifted him off the ground, and flung him into a desk. The impact sent the preteen sprawling onto the floor. As TJ attempted to get up, Elder loomed over him, intensifying the distressing scene.
Russell said the remarks her son referred to were “sexual in nature,” including one where Elder allegedly joked about leaving his shoes at her house.
“From that point, [TJ] was then grabbed and thrown to the floor like nothing,” she explained. TJ’s mother described the incident as a complete breakdown of trust in the school system, saying, “I’m heartbroken because I wouldn’t do that to my child. His father wouldn’t do that to him. So for [Elder] to take the initiative to do that is sickening.”
The altercation left TJ with a concussion and multiple bruises, requiring an emergency room visit for treatment.
In the immediate aftermath, school officials removed Elder from the classroom and reassigned him to a different location away from students. Over the weekend, Elder tendered his resignation to the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. However, Russell and others in the community argue that resignation is not enough.
“He needs to be placed in jail. He hurt my boy,” Russell said. She expressed frustration that the system appeared to be protecting Elder by allowing him to resign rather than face harsher consequences. “The school system failed us,” she added.
No lawsuits or criminal charges have been filed against Elder as of now, but the incident has reignited debates about teacher accountability and the measures in place to ensure the safety of students.
This isn’t the first time such violent incidents involving educators have made headlines.
In October, a Brooklyn teacher, Gary Zeng, was charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree strangulation and endangering the welfare of a child, after putting a 15-year-old student in a headlock.
The student, who had entered the classroom without permission, suffered neck injuries and was hospitalized. These incidents highlight the urgent need for systemic changes to address misconduct and protect students.
Education experts and child advocates emphasize the importance of swift and transparent investigations in such cases.
“When trust is broken between educators and students, the entire school community suffers,” said Dr. Karen Simmons, an expert in child psychology.
“These incidents leave lasting emotional scars on children and can undermine their faith in authority figures.”
Parents at DeRenne Middle School are demanding clearer policies and better training for teachers to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.
“We send our kids to school expecting them to be safe,” one parent said during a community meeting. “What happened to TJ is unacceptable, and we need to ensure it never happens again.”
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has not released a formal statement addressing the specifics of the incident but confirmed that an internal investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, Russell’s calls for justice remain firm. “It’s not enough for him to walk away from the job,” she said. “He needs to be held accountable for his actions.”
This incident raises broader questions about the balance of authority and accountability in schools. While teachers are tasked with maintaining discipline, there is a clear line that must not be crossed.
Physical violence, especially against a child, is never an acceptable response.
The situation at DeRenne Middle School serves as a reminder of the vigilance required to protect students.
As the school district’s investigation unfolds, parents and community members continue to advocate for stricter protocols and greater transparency.
Russell, meanwhile, remains focused on her son’s recovery, both physical and emotional, and on seeking justice for what she describes as an unforgivable breach of trust.
As stories like TJ’s emerge, they serve as a sobering reminder of the need for schools to prioritize student safety and foster environments where respect, not violence, governs interactions.
The broader educational community must confront these challenges head-on to ensure that every child feels secure in their learning environment.
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