Student threatens teacher at Chicago school in video

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Monday, November 2, 2015
CPS teacher threatened
Video shows a student threatening a teacher at Chicago Vocational Career Academy in 2011.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Video shows a student at Chicago Vocational Career Academy threatening a substitute teacher in 2011.

In the video, a student verbally abuses the female teacher and then lifts a desk and threatens her with it. The teacher stays seated the entire time. CPS released a statement Monday, calling the video "unacceptable."

"The safety of students and staff is our top priority at Chicago Public Schools, and the behavior in this video is completely unacceptable. Over the past four years, CPS has worked hard to provide all schools with restorative justice and social and emotional learning supports, both of which are shown to reduce misconducts and keep at-risk students connected to their school communities."

The video does "not in any way reflect the current climate" at CVCA, Michael Passman of CPS Office of Communications, said, and was recorded before the arrival of the current principal.

Passman did not say if the students in the video were disciplined. However, he said the students in the video no longer attend Chicago Vocational Career Academy and the substitute teacher has not worked there for "a number of years."