A substitute teacher in Jacksonville has been arrested after allegedly encouraging students to attack a classmate as she watched, according to police records.
Geanene White, 57, was terminated from her position at YMCA Tiger Academy after an internal investigation revealed she allegedly "actively encouraged" four students to physically assault another child and later pushed the victim, causing him to hit his head on a desk on February 12, First Coast News reported.
According to the arrest report obtained by the outlet, when a student refused to join a group as instructed, a frustrated White reportedly asked the class, "Who in here can beat him up?" Four students volunteered and were called on one by one. Each allegedly proceeded to hit the victim multiple times on his head and body while White watched.
Following the altercation, White allegedly shoved the victim, causing him to hit his head on a desk which exacerbated his injuries, which included bruises and a laceration behind his ear. According to the report, White reportedly grabbed the student "by the collar of his shirt and dragged him," before she sought assistance from other teachers for "behavior intervention," without revealing her role in the incident.
When the alleged incident came to light, White was immediately terminated and a report was submitted to the Department of Children and Families.
White's denial of the accusations is noted in the police report.
White is charged with child abuse and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, with an arraignment scheduled on March 25.
Originally published on Latin Times
