A high school maths teacher in Beaumont, Texas, is facing an assault charge after video spread on social media of her repeatedly hitting a student in a class.
Mary Hastings, a 63-year-old geometry teacher at Ozen High School was arrested and is now on paid leave after authorities saw the video of her striking the student at least five times.
The footage was taken on a smartphone by a classmate. It shows Hastings appearing exasperated, sweeping papers off the male student's desk, and hitting him.
Hastings hits the boy while saying, "...because you're stopping him from graduating you idiot ass".
The boy appears to be grinning after being hit.
Hastings was booked into the Jefferson County jail on a misdemeanour count of assault, CBS reported.
"BISD does not condone employees abusing any child and will not tolerate such conduct," Beaumont Independent School District spokesperson Nakisha Burns said in a statement.
"The teacher was immediately removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave pending action on her contract."
Newshub.
