Teachers Association Outraged At Video Of Student Allegedly Bullying Teacher

When Lucy Clarke saw video of a student allegedly taunting a substitute teacher at Mountain View High School, she was shocked.

“Appalled is the word that comes to mind,” said Clarke, president of the El Paso Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel

In the cell phone video, Mountain View High School student Vincent Macias is allegedly bullying Carmen Tirres, a substitute teacher and nun. As Macias continued, his classmates cheer him on. It’s an example of how terrifying and stressful teaching can be.

Clarke said whenever a teacher is put in a similar situation, their stress level skyrockets.

“There definitely is fear, there is anxiety, (a) teacher’s blood pressure goes up,” Clarke said.

Clarke said that makes it more difficult to handle the student situation appropriately.

“Any exhibition of agitation on the part of the teacher will often egg on the student,” Clarke said.

But there are some legal actions, known as the Texas Safe Schools Act, a teacher can take to help subdue an unruly student.

It is there to protect all teachers, including substitutes, from this kind of behavior.

“It gives the teacher the right to remove from his or her classroom a student who is interfering with their ability to teach or his classmates the ability to learn,” Clarke said.

A MySpace page that appears to be Macias’ has a status that seems to address the situation.

“I hope they don’t kick me out of school,” is the status.

Clarke said the real life lesson should always come from home.

“Education is also the job of the parent,” Clarke said. “In fact, parents are the first educators.”

Clint ISD officials wouldn’t elaborate on Macias’ punishment except to say that he is being disciplined.