I was reading about a shocking incident that happened in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and it reminded me of some things I’ve seen in school, too. On November 20th, a fourteen-year-old boy was slapped in a classroom at Tonkawa Middle School. The teacher who did it was Katherine Hoemann. She teaches special education, but the boy wasn’t even her student. He went into the room to grab a pencil and forgot to push the chair back in place. That was all.
A coach named Kale Dice was in the room during the incident. He witnessed everything. What surprised people was that he didn’t report it. Some even said he laughed at the moment. When I heard that, I thought about those situations in school where someone in power sees something wrong but does nothing. It only makes things worse for the student.
The principal, Mr. Reinhart, learned of the incident the same day. However, Hoemann continued teaching until December 1st. Many believe the school took too long to act. If something like this happened in my school, everyone would be shocked that a teacher could keep teaching after hitting a student. In Oklahoma, staff must report any child abuse. It is a serious crime if they conceal it. That’s why people call this a failure of the whole system.
The story gained attention after Ron Durbin from Guerrilla Publishing posted it on Facebook. His post spread quickly because he openly discussed what happened. He said the teacher should have been removed right away. He also stated that Coach Dice should have reported it and urged parents in Tonkawa to pay close attention to what happens in schools.
He encouraged people to support the student and his mother and asked others to share the story so more people would know. I saw his message, and it felt powerful. He stated that anyone who protects abuse should never be allowed to work with kids again. Many people in the comments agreed with him.
Some shared their thoughts. One person suggested there should be cameras in classrooms so no one can hide the truth. They noted that phones capture only a few seconds, whereas cameras capture the whole picture. Another person pointed out that Hoemann teaches vulnerable kids, making this situation even scarier. They wondered if she would act this way with a regular student, raising concerns about what happens in her own classroom. That comment struck me because it’s true. No adult should put their hands on a child.
Someone else remarked that even with video evidence, some would still defend the teacher and blame the student. I’ve seen this happen online many times. Whenever a child gets hurt, some people ask what the child did wrong instead of focusing on the adult’s actions. It feels unfair.
This situation shows why trust between students and teachers gets broken so easily. Once a teacher uses physical force, the entire class feels unsafe. Even if a student forgets to push in a chair, there are ways to address it without resorting to violence. We all make mistakes in school. I’ve forgotten to return things or made noise when moving chairs. Usually, teachers remind us or explain the situation. Violence should never be the answer.
A thorough investigation is necessary. The school and authorities must examine why no one reported the incident in a timely manner. The community is seeking answers, and they deserve them. Students should feel safe at school, not fearful of those meant to help them learn. I hope the boy and his family receive the support they need. You may also be interested in: Stephen School Suspended A Football Player For Three Days After A Bigger Kid Put Hands On Him In The Lunch Line
