I got busted by the police for excessive force!
Yes, a cop… busted me!!! for excessive force. And when law enforcement complains of a teacher using excessive force, you’d think, ‘Wow that teacher must be out of control.’ Or would you?
Officer Bradshaw was talking with the Principal out on the P.E. field when they heard shouting coming from outside a classroom. They turned to see a white male teacher shouting at a black female student. (Start the body camera now) Bradshaw turned on his ‘body cam’, he couldn’t make out what was being said but it was obvious that the teacher and the girl were yelling at each other. Then they stopped yelling and stomped back into the classroom (stop the camera).
Outraged (and probably feeling like he had the moral high ground), Bradshaw turned to the Principal and demanded, “Is THAT how your teachers talk to your students?” The Principal said, “I don’t know what that was about, but I will find out.”
So, of course, I heard about it that afternoon. Before I could say a word in my defense, I was hearing phrases like, “I expect better things from you… Have you any idea how embarrassing that was… What were you thinking?” and more. To which I protested, “You guys weren’t there. I had to shout at that girl just to get a word in edgewise. I was only following school policy but she refused listen.” “So you had to shout?” “Yes!” And before the week was out, I was vindicated by the Principal’s own actions.
