Students say teacher taped child’s mouth shut at SC elementary

A South Carolina teacher has been accused of taping the mouth of an elementary school student in hopes of silencing him.

The parent of the student told Live 5 News that she filed a report with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, after learning of the incident from other parents whose children witnessed the Friday incident at E.B. Ellington Elementary School.

“I was really in shock,” the mother told the station. “I honestly didn’t know how to feel. I was angry. I was hurt. But more so, I was disappointed in the safety of our children at the school.”

Live 5 News and The Post and Courier reported that the incident report states the woman’s 7-year-old son was initially hesitant about discussing the event. She told Live 5 News that her son was scared. She also said he didn’t want to say anything, because he didn’t want to get his teacher in trouble.

One parent told sheriff’s office that her daughter said the teacher told the boy to be quiet and placed “a large piece of packing tape” on his mouth, The Post and Courier reported.

“She removed the tape off his mouth and told the other students the same would happen to them,” the incident report stated, according to the newspaper.

A third person told investigators that the teacher had previously threatened students and thrown pencils at them, The Post and Courier reported.

Both news organizations reported the teacher had been placed on administrative leave. The investigation by the sheriff’s office is still ongoing.

This story was originally published December 20, 2017 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Students say teacher taped child’s mouth shut at SC elementary."