Barely a day after a Buddy Taylor Middle School teacher was jailed on a battery charge against a 14-year-old student, a 15-year-old Flagler Palm Coast High School student was arrested and charged with battery against a faculty member at the school.
The middle school teacher, Jeffrey “Rocco” Paffumi, faces a misdemeanor. The student faces a felony charge, because battery against a teacher is a felony-class crime under Florida law. It was the second such charge the 15-year-old faced in five months.
On Aug. 28, a fight had broken out at the school. Kerry Ellis, a 60-year-old math teacher, was attempting to keep other students from converging toward the fight by standing in the hallway and holding his hands up. Two students were rushing his way. One of the two stopped. The other “intentionally got in his face and stated, ‘Get the fuck out of my way.’,” according to the student’s arrest report. The student then “intentionally used his shoulder to shove himself into Mr. Ellis’s shoulder in order to get past him.”
Campus security attempted to detain him, but the student resisted until a school resource officer brought him under control. It was the same 15-year-old student involved in the incident Thursday.
A school resource officer had been summoned to respond to a fight between two students in a hallway. Robert Rhoads, a faculty member, was attempting to break-up the fight, according to the student’s arrest report. The deputy observed the student allegedly “striking Mr. Rhoads in his back as he was positioned behind him. Mr. Rhoads was then able to get in front of [the student] and restrained him against the wall with the assistance of Dean Erin Davis.”
While the student was being restrained against the wall, “he again began actively resisting the efforts of both school staff members who were trying to keep him away from the fight and in a safe manner,” the deputy reported. “As I approached them trying to keep him against the wall, I observed him shove Erin Davis in a manner that caused her to stumble back.” The student, the report goes on, “was then successfully restrained and escorted back to the Dean’s Office without further incident.”
The sheriff’s office released a 67-second video clip from the deputy’s body cam. The footage does not show the fight that had drawn the deputy. It starts as the student is briefly in close contact with Davis, next to Rhoads. On two occasions the student pushes Davis away with his right hand or arm while trying to get around Rhoads, though she does not seem to “stumble” (the force of the shove is more akin to the sort of shoves or bumps students might experience in hallways during crowded class change-overs). Davis stays with him and appears to patiently speak with him: he was not “restrained,” but rather walked with her, putting his hood on, toward the administration offices, at which point the camera pans back to the main lobby.
The deputy reviewed surveillance detected the boy at another location, “along the straight hallway with his shirt off trying to fight another student.” (The fight did not take place.) The deputy noted that “Neither victim sustained any injuries.”
“We will not tolerate any kind of violence inside our schools,” Sheriff Rick Staly was quoted as saying in a release. “If you batter school personnel or other students you will be charged. I hope this is a wakeup call for this juvenile and he gets the help he needs or the courts and the Department of Juvenile Justice take his violence seriously.”
It’s been a difficult week for school officials. On Tuesday, Paffumi, a 47-year-old teacher at Buddy Taylor Middle, was arrested after he forcefully removed a student from his classroom. The incident was caught on video by another student. The incident has since drawn national attention and a continuing local debate about the use of force. Superintendent Jim Tager said “The actions of this teacher are not consistent with how we expect our educators to act.”
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Dave says
So juveniles which have many hormones and have not yet learned control or understanding will be given a FELONY for minor aggressive contact with faculty.
BUT a TEACHER that knows better ,that puts his hands on a student, drags him by the neck and slams him into a door and then violently pushes him, only gets a MISDEMEANOR!!??
Something is definitely wrong with the way the laws work in this state. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
Fredrick says
Dave I think you should volunteer to go keep the peace at FPC. So many of the poor little angels there are just not getting the love and attention they are desperately seeking. How dare they not be allowed to play music and be a distraction to those who are trying to learn. How dare they not be allowed to be disrespectful to teachers, who are trying to teach them and a class room of other students something.
Mary Fusco says
Dave, Sorry but your logic is flawed. I raised 4 children who went through 12 years each of public school and 4 years of college and and never had the need to speak to a teacher the way that these kids do, nor to get into any confrontation whatsoever. I have 5 grandchildren 3 of whom are in college and have never had a problem in school. Maybe we should look at the parenting in this state and all others because the way that these kids are talking to and reacting to their teachers or ANY person of authority is exactly how they treat their parents. Yes, IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. Maybe you are up for homeschooling some of these poor misjudged little darlings. Or maybe you could counsel them. LOL.
Don says
Your right, the teacher should be given a MEDAL of HONOR !!!
Phyllis says
Kids now a days do what they want and the parents don’t care and are not discipline for their action . I feel sorry for the teachers now then back in the 60’s and 70’s. I think I would home school my kids now because there are to many kids out of control and on drugs. It is so sad. I am not a teacher . This is just my opinion. You were not in the class room and you don’t know what that boy has did days that led up to the teacher doing what he did. That would be like a kid telling you that you are going to hit a kid and then didn’t but you just don’t know what they are capable of doing.
Bootyboi55 says
In what sane world is it a misdemeanor to batter a CHILD, and a freaking felony charge for battering a teacher (ADULT)?!?! Just goes to show we live in a society where it’s considered okay to abuse children. I blame Christianity for this backwards thinking…
Concern citizen says
I think parents need to take control of their children and this is what is happen in today Society. Children do whatever they want parents are working and going out and the kids are left to fin for there self. They have no Respect for adults and they think they’re going to do with ever they want to adult. This is a wake up call to tell parents to control there children.
Trailer Bob says
Really? It is Christianity to blame for these punks poor behavior? The teacher removed the student from the class…a punk of a student at that.
I will assume the comments above are both from school kids, as they are things only a child would say. Boy we have a long way to go in this modern society of disrespect, hatred, and laziness. God help us.
Bootyboi says
In what sane world is it a misdemeanor to batter a CHILD, and a freaking felony charge for battering a teacher (ADULT)?!?! Just goes to show we live in a society where it’s considered okay to abuse children. I blame Christianity for this backwards thinking…
ASF says
Sounds like the 15 year old in question has been “released to his parents/guardians’ supervision” unquestioningly too many times–and needs additional evaluation to determine potential for harm to self and/or others.
Percy's mother says
I’m sure our superintendent, Mr. Tager, will side with the 15-year-old batterer, just as he stood up for the 14-year-old punk who pushed Mr. Paffumi beyond his limits of patience.
Mr. Tager would never consider backing the teachers in Flagler County.
Jimbo99 says
I dunno, I see a kid trying to get away from from an administrator in the video. By her actions, she’s detaining him against his will by cutting off his route to leave. His posture is one of hanging his head, he certainly is not instigating any interaction at any point of the video. If anything, she was initiating the physical contact. I hope they have more than this video footage to substantiate that he assaulted anyone beyond retaliation to being confronted physically. If one is not supposed to touch another, he certainly is within a right to push back after being touched regardless of the effort or intensity of that contact. I wouldn’t call her physical contact in the confrontation aggressive either.
Sick and tired says
What is wrong with the state of education? It’s no wonder we have a teacher shortage. You couldn’t pay me any amount of money to set foot in a classroom or school for that matter. Parents get ready to home school your kids. You try teaching them. I’m sorry you already failed at that. That’s why you send them to school and they behave like they have NO home training! I have a feeling this teacher crises is about to widen even further. Get ready!
La says
It is very sad but teacher get away with what he did with smaller charge wow could have been my child …
CB from PC says
According to Superintendent Jim Tager, the actions of the teacher grabbing and throwing a disrespectful and disruptive student out of class is ” … not consistent with how we expect our educators to act”.
What about the expectations of STUDENTS WHO ACTUALLY WANT A CLASSROOM ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING?
Isn’t the purpose of attending school to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become a productive member of society?
This kid has a history of problem-causing BS, and the school has put up with it, to the detriment of those students trying to learn.
Today, we have another one assaulting a teacher.
Mr. Tager, you are paid a hefty salary with pension and benefits.
It is time for you to support your faculty members, and tell these problem students and their parents that there are RULES.
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR WILL RESULT IN CONSEQUENCES.
IF YOU CANNOT IMPLEMENT STEPS TO BRING THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE FLAGLER SCHOOL SYSTEM UNDER CONTROL, THEN IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO BE REPLACED WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN.
Mondexmomma says
If anyone knows what happened about that teacher he had to remove the student he was playing music and called the teacher racist names disrupting the whole class. I DO NOT WANT MY KIDS EXPOSED TO THAT BEHAVIOR. I am paying taxes for my kids to learn not seeing disrespect towards teachers and my kids NOT LEARNING subjects in school. Could the teacher used different practice removing the student perhaps. Does the school have some kind of protocol for such an event? Would be interesting to find out. Let me say if I found out my kid was acting the way that kid was behaving in that classroom? Him being removed from the classroom in such a matter would be a walk through the tulips compared to what he would be facing when he got home. My kids would NOT AND WILL NOT DISRESPECT TEACHERS in the way that kid did. Find out all the facts people before running your mouths. If you still feel that way afterward then all I can say is your part of them problem not part of the solution. Behaviors begin at home you learn what you live***
SteveWard says
Just an FYI, News Flash to SCHOOL Adm./LEO/Parents this activity is all staged its planned out it doesn’t just happen. We read about it time and time again in the paper. In the parking lot, under the pier, at School. Then how do all the videos magically appear right on time with the camera, but no one saw it or whatever. I mean these kids are so lucky Sasquatch will be filmed in PC shortly. It is all for their sick Social media enjoyment and playing right into it. Sound familiar. Its obvious to me. They know the consequences are minimal and don’t care plain and simple. There you have it. Make consequences for their Parents as well as them for their actions. GL PS make them leave the phones at home or wherever ………..
Lily says
Kids are out of control. They do not respect their teachers or elders. The teachers can’t teach because of the disruption of these unruly children. Children today are not taught respect. The parents are to blame. Make the parents responsible for their children and their actions. When parents start parenting, this crap will stop. And as far as the teacher goes that “assaulted” the child, that’s a load a garbage. You touch their shirt and the incompetent parents are on the phone to a lawyer. It’s sickening.
Agkistrodon says
Sounds like this problem child needs to be permanently kicked out of school. And to those crying foul here, perhaps Dave or bootyboi can counsel this young man, as they seem to have seem to have the answers. Better watch out though, the boy might decide to beat on you, and you can just take it and shine on right? Yeah sure……….
Jim says
These kids that hit or yell at a teacher should be expelled and never be all0wed back in a public school again. My taxes pay for his education and I am sick and tired that we allow theses thugs to ruin the education experience for other kids. I also have no problem teachers protecting themself. I would not have any problem a Teacher decking one of these thugs that feel they are entitle to touch a teacher.
Don says
SEGRATION is once again NEEDED in America !!!!
Born and Raised Here says
Prosecute the kid as an Adult and charge him with a felony. Also charge his Parents with a misdemeanor. It’s time these wanna-be thugs be held accountable for there actions.
Dawn aherwood says
It’s a free for all society. One could compare it to Darwinism…?
Dennis says
My question is, why was this student even allowed back in the school, when he was in trouble before? I see prison in the near future fir this guy.
surroundedbyidiots says
Dave and Bootyboi55 are what is wrong with society. Clearly they presume the adults are always to blame. Actually they are, but it’s the parents of these delinquents, not the teachers, who are at fault.
hawkeye says
you are so right ,you took the words out of my mouth
Jim says
In what sane world do we allow delinquents run a school. Should be expelled permently
When is enough enough says
With all the comments the past few days and the constant degenerates disrupting the schools how about all on these comments actually attend the School Board meetings, demand a meeting and get things changed because honestly sitting on your electronics commenting is not going to change anything at all. Also how about those that are sick and tired of the constant bs in the schools demand for Tager to resign and find a better candidate to replace him along with several of the School Board Members since obviously those that have been on the Board have done nothing to better the schools or education in the county, they remain stagnant collecting hefty salaries. Its time to take action and be proactive not continue to sit idly by and just make comments on article after article of the downfall of the county, schools and society in Flagler. Also there are enough people in this county with children attending the schools to demand the kids not have cell phones in school, not have the constant screen time and electronics because it has been detrimental to our youth. They do not have the maturity or mental capacity to sit on this garbage day in and day out. There is a direct correlation to all this electronic equiptment and the constant issues in the schools since integrating it all. Go back to having computer classes or IT classes so they can learn something productive to do on the equiptment rather than watching youtube, facebook, instagram, twitter, cyberbullying etc all day long instead of actually paying attention to valuable instruction time and being little degenerates. Go back to books and printouts for all other classes because the electronics have seriously damaged the youth. They cant do anything in the real world without a screen. The risks far outweigh the reward. Parents wake up, do some actual research on the effects of the screens you allow and most allow because its easier than actually parenting. The day of electronic babysitter/parent should be ended because its not working well at all. If yall dont get proactive and demand things change… well good luck because the county and the youth are all going to hell in a handbasket!
Jon says
I wonder if State attorney Larizza (POS) will charge this student with terrorism. My guess is no since the student is black and Larizza is now owned by the NAACP.
Erin Davis is a pot stirrer at the school.
Joseph Franchina says
My name is Joseph Franchina. I am a retired high school teacher from Stamford Connecticut. My district is rich in diversity. There are students from many cultural backgrounds and geographic locations. In my thirty years of teaching, I have encountered many of the same problems plaguing the Flagler county school system and have discovered the best way to address and resolve these challenging issues.