The Buffalo School District has placed a teacher on administrative leave as it investigates allegations that she threw a chair at a third grad student, injuring her.
The mother of eight year-old Daviance Moore says her daughter was in art class at Public School 59, Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet School, on Wednesday when the teacher tossed a chair at her daughter.
All four legs struck her in the back, according to Davina Melton, the girl's mother.
Melton said she was originally told by the school's principal the teacher threw the chair at the ground and it bounced into her daughter.
But Melton said the school and district won't give her any more information about the incident and she's frustrated with the school's response.
"I don't even know how to feel," Melton said. "Coming to the world today how could a teacher do something like this? You would think nothing like that would happen at school."
Melton brought her daughter to the emergency room after picking her up from school Wednesday afternoon. Daviance doesn't have any broken bones, but did experience bruises, swelling and soreness. Daviance's doctor recommended keeping the child out of school until Monday so she can properly recover from the injuries.
"My opinion of it [the teacher] shouldn't have license anymore," Melton said. "She shouldn't be around any more of the children. Because it's not fair. If it's not my child it could have been someone else's child. It could have been not just her back it could have been something worse. It could have taken her eye out. It could have been deadly."
The district says it is looking into the situation and the teacher has been placed on leave.
"The District takes these allegations and all such matters seriously," said Elena Cala, Buffalo Public Schools spokesperson. "Following immediate and intensive protocol, the confidential investigation is ongoing, while the teacher has been placed on administrative leave."
