Oakland High School teacher suspended for one day for joking knife incident

May 07, 2014 at 06:29 pm by bryan


A teacher was suspended for one day without pay at Oakland High School for allegedly pulling out a pocket knife in a joking manner. Preston Johnson allegedly pulled the knife out in a non-threatening way after several exchanges of horseplay between multiple students and a teacher on Tuesday.

As a result of the incident, Johnson, a Chemistry teacher, was suspended on Wednesday without pay.

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Below is a statement from James Evans with the Rutherford County Schools: 

A teacher at Oakland High School has been suspended without pay for one day after making a poor choice in an attempt at humor.

Preston Johnson, a chemistry teacher, took out his pocket knife in a non-threatening way after several exchanges of horseplay between multiple students and the teacher.  The principal at the school interviewed students as part of the investigation. Each student interviewed interpreted it as a joke, including the one in which it was directed. The distance between the teacher and student was at least six feet, and the knife was held vertical to the floor. It was not pointed at the student. The action on the part of the teacher, although inappropriate, was not threatening.

The district and the school do not take these types of incidents lightly, which is why it was immediately investigated thoroughly and the teacher has been disciplined for his unwise action. 

Source

James Evans, Spokesperson for the Rutherford County Schools

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