Teacher allegedly assaulted by student in class at a Laval school
Posted October 6, 2023 1:45 pm.
Last Updated October 6, 2023 1:47 pm.
MONTREAL – A 65-year-old teacher suffered upper-body injuries after being allegedly assaulted in class by a 13-year-old student on Thursday afternoon at a Laval school.
The incident occurred shortly after lunch at École l’Odyssée-des-Jeunes, according to Érika Landry, spokesperson for the Laval Police force (SPL).
The teacher allegedly asked the student to change her behaviour, after which the girl assaulted her. Some students reported that the aggression was perpetrated with scissors, but this information has not been confirmed by the police, said Sergeant Landry.
Students around the school tried to intervene, and teachers were eventually able to subdue the student.
The teacher was taken to hospital for treatment of upper-body injuries and possible nervous shock, according to the police spokeswoman. The teenager was also taken to hospital for a psychological evaluation.
Thursday evening, the young suspect was arrested by police for assault with a weapon, and released with a promise to appear in court. She is no longer detained pending possible charges.
The file will soon be forwarded to prosecutors, said Sergeant Landry.
The Centre de services scolaires de Laval confirmed in an e-mail that an “incident” had occurred at the school due to a student “who physically attacked her teacher”.
The teacher suffered minor injuries and remained at home on Friday, said Annie Goyette, spokesperson for the service center. As for the student, she has been removed from class for the time being, pending the next steps in the case.
“Please be assured that we do not tolerate acts of violence, that they are unacceptable and that we take the situation very seriously,” said Goyette, who forwarded to The Canadian Press a letter sent to parents on Thursday.
In the letter, the school principal, Geoffroy Gauthier, says the event took place in a Secondary 2 art class. He tells parents that resources will be available for students who wish to talk about the incident.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on October 6, 2023.
