Video shows teacher hitting student

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - A high school teacher in southeast Texas has been arrested on an assault charge after a video surfaced online showing her repeatedly striking a student in her class.

The cellphone video, which has an emoji overlay, shows the teacher at Ozen High School in Beaumont swiping papers off the student's desk, slapping him five times and scolding him for being a disruption.

The teacher also calls the student an ‘idiot #@!’ before mocking him in front of other students.

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO AND LANGUAGE

The incident reportedly began when the student asked the teacher a question about his grade.

The Beaumont school district said in a press release that the geometry teacher was arrested Friday and placed on leave. Officials say the district "does not condone employees abusing any child."

"The Beaumont Independent School District can confirm that an Ozen High School teacher was arrested today for physically assaulting a student. The conduct was substantiated by video footage viewed by BISD police and administration. The District is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our students. BISD does not condone employees abusing any child and will not tolerate such conduct. The teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave pending action on her contract."

Mary Hastings, 63, was booked into the Jefferson County jail on a misdemeanor count of assault and posted $2,500 bond.

A phone listing for her could not be found for comment.

With the Associated Press