Benton Harbor Area Schools teacher fired after bullying video goes viral

BENTON HARBOR, Mich.--- A teacher at the International Academy at Hull Elementary School has been fired after a viral video showed the teacher encouraging first graders as they attacked a classmate. The video shows the child being punch and kicked by his classmates repeatedly.

"This has touched me and my family and my son, to a point where it has left us all speechless," said Carmesha Ellis, the child's mother. The child's family said they weren't even made aware of the incident until the video began going viral.

"I was heated," said Dontavious Tyler, the child's father. "That’s not something where you want to just be at work and get a message that the whole classroom is bullying your son."

Dr. Andre Townsel, Benton Harbor Area Schools' superintendent, wants to strengthen communication between schools and parents so that parents are made aware of incidents by the schools instead of on social media. "This was a horrible thing that occurred and our goal is to ensure that it never happens again," said Dr. Townsel.

The child's parents say they will be moving their child to a new district because of the incident.