A pair of Ohio teachers have come under fire for ruthlessly mocking their students during a Zoom call they didn’t know was being recorded, calling one boy “annoying AF.”
The shocking interaction between a Reynolds Elementary School teacher and a Toledo Public School special education administrator came right after they spoke with the concerned mother of a six-year-old student who was allegedly beaten up in class.
After the mother hung up, the teacher and administrator admitted how they really felt about the alleged bullying victim.
“He’s annoying AF,” the teacher was heard saying. “I tried to tell the mother that this is a behavior classroom. All these kids are here for a reason.”
The teacher even called one of the students “an attempted murderer” while referring to the boy’s alleged violent behavior in class.
This was said by the mother, who chose to remain anonymous WTVG that her son’s bullying became so bad that he openly said he wanted to commit suicide.
‘He came home with multiple bruises and nosebleeds. “He came home and said he was going to kill himself,” she said.
The two teachers went on a six-minute rant about the students, unaware that everything they said was being recorded and transcribed.
The shocking interaction between a teacher at Reynolds Elementary School and a special education administrator at Toledo Public School
Deputy Superintendent James (Jim) R. Gant said the teachers may face disciplinary action over the incident
That transcript was sent to the mother. She was particularly outraged by a part of the recording in which the teacher calls her son’s suicide threats “learned behavior.”
“The thing about wanting to kill yourself, that’s a learned behavior. You know my class. All day long he screams, “I hate my life! I hate my life! I’m going to kill myself!” And he learned that here, because half of my class says that all day,” the teacher said.
The mother said this entire exchange was unprofessional.
“My six-year-old said he wanted to kill himself and there was no mention of it, and she just said it as calmly as, ‘Oh, that’s normal behavior in my class.’ It needs to be reported because children commit suicide every day,” the mother said.
The teacher also commented on the behavior of other students, one of whom she called an “attempted murderer.” This comment made the manager laugh hysterically.
“They say, ‘Why is there (empty) in that class?’ Because it looks like he’s an attempted murderer. He will chase you with his pencil.” said the teacher.
The teacher also appeared to name four different students who beat up the concerned mother’s child.
A screenshot of the recording hid the identities of the teachers who heard derogatory language about the student
Following the incident, Toledo Public Schools released a statement to WTVG detailing what happened and how the school responded.
“Toledo Public Schools is working with Reynolds Elementary administration to address questionable comments made by two staff members following a parent meeting last Friday morning,” Deputy Superintendent James R. Gant said in a statement.
“The meeting was videotaped without the knowledge of those involved and the district sent a link to the parent.
“Toledo Public Schools holds its employees to the highest professional standards and will take additional and appropriate steps, including possible disciplinary action, after the holidays.”
The hot mic conversation also brought to light allegations that an administrator at Reynolds Elementary was overly rough with students while restraining them.
‘I know enough that you have to cross them here. He will wrap their neck completely. The children scream, “I can’t breathe, you’re hurting my neck,” said the same teacher.
The mother who originally called in hopes of putting an end to her son’s bullying said she has removed him from school.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Toledo Public Schools for an update.