An alarming incident at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, involving a high school teacher and a dangerous classroom activity, has led to a lawsuit against Albuquerque Public Schools (APS). The lawsuit, filed on February 23, alleges that a teacher allowed students to engage in sword fighting during a chemistry class on May 2, 2022, resulting in significant injury to one of the students.
According to reports from KRQE-TV, the troubling event was captured on video, showing students wielding swords and dueling in the classroom under the teacher’s supervision. Tragically, this unconventional class activity led to a student sustaining a deep cut on her wrist, necessitating emergency medical attention. The injuries were severe, with severed nerves and tendons, ultimately requiring surgical intervention and leaving the student with permanent damage to her dominant hand.
Attorney Jessica Hernandez, representing the injured student’s family, criticized both the teacher’s judgment and APS’s oversight, stating, “Not only did this teacher and APS not protect this child, but actively put her in harm’s way, actively created this danger and put deadly weapons right into these student’s hands — and exactly what could reasonably be anticipated is what happened.”
The lawsuit details how the teacher surprised the students with the swords, purportedly as part of a lesson on the science of metal and melding. Despite the Albuquerque Public Schools handbook’s clear classification of weapons as items that could cause injury or death, the teacher proceeded to have students engage in sword duels, exacerbating the risk of harm.
The incident came to light through a cellphone video taken by the injured student moments before her participation in the sword fight. The subsequent injury and the school’s handling of the situation have raised serious concerns about safety and accountability within the school district.
Hernandez further commented on the school’s response to the incident, suggesting that an attempt was made to downplay the seriousness of the situation and avoid a thorough investigation. “The incident report that he filled out really seems like it’s trying to deflect responsibility away from the district to sweep this under the rug rather than doing a thorough investigation to find out exactly why and how one of their students had been so seriously hurt,” she remarked.
In response to the fallout from the incident, APS confirmed that the teacher involved, initially hired in 2021 as a special education teacher, was terminated in 2022. The lawsuit continues to unfold as the injured student’s family seeks justice and accountability for the distressing event.
How did the swords ever get into the school?
DITTO
So what was the point of this “lesson”? (Pun intended.)
I wonder what happened to the criminal case for this incident, since nothing was said about it in the media. Bringing a deadly weapon on to school campus is a felony, causing the fighting with swords is felony child abuse, and there are other charges that should be filed.
Ditto
Did anyone else notice the “sophomore” has a tattoo on his wounded hand? The kid is how old? Parenting issues perhaps?
With the mental status of many high school “educators”, wisdom and “common sense” is obviously not a requirement for employment.
My apology for the overuse of “”!
Worst of all… APS doesn’t teach critical thinking, nor foster confidence building- and the parents aren’t doing this at home- leaving this student more concerned with taking a video than saying “No, I’m not going to do that.” If APS was preparing students, instead of brainwashing with leftist propaganda, maybe this could have been avoided. If parents could raise their children without fear of prison and social stigma, that would be even better.
WOW Good thing was NOT a pistol duel! Any & all goes on in the APS environment.
I would like to say it was the fault of the woke agenda in our schools but there is not indication that is true from what was offered. I do believe schools should not be cutting off sex organs of our children and teaching the 3 Rs and life skills. I know out folks in the red areas get it but the kids in our blue areas can’t tell their ass from a hole in the ground, heaven help us all.
Demonstrates the level of educators and education in our State and Country. Higher educated does not mean smart.