FORT WAYNE – A teacher at Woodside Middle School has been suspended after displaying a knife during a lesson on the French and Indian War, according to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department.
“The teaching aid is obviously in question,” said officer Adam Griffith, a sheriff’s department spokesman.
On Feb. 3, the teacher was telling students that he was going to be stricter, and a student asked what would happen if they revolted.
The student then stood up from her desk and started to walk toward the teacher.
He opened a drawer, took out a knife and held it up with the point in the air, while he looked at the class, Griffith said.
“The British won because they had greater firepower,” the teacher reportedly said, according to Griffith.
The student sat down, and the class was somewhat taken aback, but things went on as usual, Griffith said.
A parent later learned about what happened and contacted school officials, who met with the teacher on Thursday.
A county officer observed the meeting, and afterward, officers escorted the teacher from the school, Griffith said.
During the meeting, the teacher told school officials he got the knife from the staff kitchen and used it to cut fruit. The teacher felt the incident was being blown out of proportion, Griffith said.
The teacher told school officials some students had “big eyes” but that they knew he was joking and trying to make a point, Griffith said.
A county officer wrote a report about the incident, and it was sent to detectives for review. No charges have been filed.
Griffith said the teacher was suspended with pay, pending the school’s investigation.
Attempts to reach the teacher and Southwest Allen County Schools Superintendent Steve Yager were unsuccessful Saturday.
