Education

Fla. Substitute Teacher Suspended for Punching 2nd-Grade Students

When a Sarasota substitute teacher couldn’t get a piece of classroom equipment to work, he took his frustration and rage out on three second-graders trying to help him. According to the Sarasota County sheriff’s office, the teacher swore, pushed and punched the children, causing one to vomit in the classroom and one to seek treatment at the hospital for chest pain.

William Amory, 55, was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of child abuse for “inflicting physical and mental injury” to the children.

The Herald-Tribune reports:

“Students tried to help the defendant, but he became upset and angry,” a detective wrote in Amory’s arrest report.

Amory then threw the device’s remote control, yelled and cursed at the students, then punched two students and pushed a third. Two of the students, who were not named, are 8 years old and one is 7 years old.

The students told their regular teacher the next day, who then notified the principal, who reported the incident to the state Department of Children and Families and to the Sheriff’s Office.

The school district has since suspended Amory from teaching.  The substitute has had two previous, non-violent complaints filed against in 2003 and 2009.  In one incident Amory cursed at students and in another, the principal at Sarasota Middle School demanded he be transferred after reading the Bible in class rather than teaching.

According to the Tampa Bay Online, Amory blamed an out-of-control class for his aggression during a court appearance Friday.

“Mr. Amory disputes these allegations,” said Amory’s attorney, Derek Byrd, during the court proceedings.

Byrd said Amory “lost a little bit of control of the class.”

Byrd blames what happened on the difficult job substitute teachers have combined with a batch of unruly students.

“He (Amory) doesn’t deny putting his hands on a child, not in the sense of punching a child, but in the sense of maintaining order with an open hand trying to keep one child away from the other,” Byrd said.

Comments (146)

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  • heyjms
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:51am

    And yet another reason to keep your kids out of “public” schools.

    Report Post » heyjms  
  • Hondaman
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:51am

    Probably Sarah Palin’s fault.

    Report Post »  
  • powhatan
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:44am

    Psycho…..leave him in prison

    Report Post » powhatan  
  • EP46
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:43am

    Snow, I fear this happens too often and is not reported. Physical and psychological abuse of students is an area that needs much more attention paid to it, I know you agree. We need to make public the behavior of the teachers as well as the students.

    Report Post »  
  • American exceptionalism
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:42am

    @LBSM.. I hate to tell you bro, but you just responded to an imposter beckisnuts.. This guy is just trolling, using others user names.. Be careful, I and several others actually had to change our user names because of it.. Although it does sound like something the real beckisnuts would say, I really don’t think he would go that far.. He’s just trying to get a rise out of all of us.. That just ruins the thread, because half of it will be rebuttals to a comment that has no merit.. Be careful .. I know, I sound like a broken record as I’ve warned the same on several occasions, but until this gets fixed by the Blaze, I think it’s needs repeating.. Anyway

    Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • TrueToTheCoreAmerican
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:53am

      I’m not a troll. Just a kid. So what that I live in my parents basement. At least I have my own space. I also type what I think. I say what’s on my mind and what I believe.

      When you guys disagree with me I steel your ID’s and make you look like fools. You can do a Google search on my userid. I do this on a lot of comment boards.

      It’s my right. If you don’t like that I am a far-left liberal extremist to bad. Just don‘t disagree with me and we’ll get along fine.

      PS. Anyone have a job opening? I need a job. My 99 weeks of unemployment is ending soon.

       
    • BECKISNUTS
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:55am

      See, I just stole TRUETOTHECOREAMERICAN’s userid and posted as him. Check the post times out.

       
    • American exceptionalism
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:00am

      @TRUETOTHECOREAMERICAN.. lol I hear there is a substitute teaching position now in Sarasota, that you may be interested in.. :~)

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • American exceptionalism
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:03am

      @American exceptionalism

      I told you I‘m a troll stealing userID’s. See, you didn’t write this. The Blaze needs to fix this problem.

       
    • American exceptionalism
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:40am

      Whatever, It doesn‘t matter to me I use differnt ID’s on EVERY page so go ahead no one knows who I am and you’re pretty easy to figure out .. Moron

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • American exceptionalism
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:25pm

      THE TROLL is BROKER0101.. trust me on this… I know, but I’m not telling how I know..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • David Foxfire
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:36pm

      They See Me Trolling.
      They’re Hating.
      Complaining.
      That I’m always posting dirty.

      Report Post »  
  • charliego
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:39am

    UNDISCIPLINED, unmotivated students, undisciplined, frustrated, unmotivated teachers, unmotivated lack-luster involvement of parents. (this is not intended as a blanket statement). WAKE UP America. A building block, the future of American society-its children- are being intellectually wasted and destroyed.

    Report Post » charliego  
    • charliego
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:57am

      @Charliego
      P.S. This comment does not excuse this ‘teacher’s’ behavior. Out of the classroom is best; hopefully, forever out of the profession is even better!

      Report Post » charliego  
  • EP46
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:39am

    Is he a ‘teacher’ ? I know in one state they let parents or college students fill in for teachers. I have never understood this, just know from friends who have done so that it happens. If this (undocumented ? substitute ) is a normal, nation wide practice, I have a big problems with it. Some of you teachers out there should be able to answer my question. Thanks

    Report Post »  
  • BruceB
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:37am

    His problem is caused by his listening and watching MSNBC.CNN.ABC.NBC,CBS,Huffington,DKOs, and Nancy polosi. They all should be charged with the same thing this monster is.

    Report Post »  
  • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:36am

    I was thinking that a pit full of rabid wolves would be nice as well. Al Quaida or the Taliban would most likely welcome him with open arms for ‘teaching children so well.”

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:33am

    The kid had it coming. :-)

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:32am

    The headline made me laugh… reading the article made me angry.

    Wish I was there when it happened.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • sedition
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:26am

    Drop him into the desert in Afghanistan

    Report Post » sedition  
  • Thomas Parker
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:24am

    Wouldn’t surprise me if the guy is innocent. Kids know full-well how to get attention in school and how hyper-sensitive administrators are these days with their so-called “zero-tolerance” policies. This guy may very well have just been trying to maintain order and is getting railroaded. I remember the hell we used to give substitute teachers 30 years ago when I was in school. He might be guilty as charged, too… but, the point is he is being accused by the kids who could just as easily be the culprits here as the accused.

    Report Post »  
    • American exceptionalism
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:55am

      Well, that may be a valid point except for those pesky little bruises on the kids.. Do you think they were that devious to bruise eachother up, before reporting what happened ? Come on ..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
  • Midwest Blonde
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:24am

    This man should never be allowed to teach again. He’s a menace to children.

    Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
    • 7.62AirMailComeGetIt
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:12pm

      The man should be placed in the middle of LAKE BUTLER’s yard with an announcement of his actions

      Report Post »  
  • BECKISNUTS
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:22am

    We liberals have been infiltrating Americas educational system for years. We put our people in control of your children, teaching them what we want them to learn even if it’s against you, the parents beliefs. Then, we unionized and instituted tenure to ensure that we couldn’t be removed. We program your kids to follow our agenda. To bad you all didn’t see it coming.

     
    • 912828Buckeye
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:39am

      Trouble making troll………..Please ignore NUTS.

      Report Post » 912828Buckeye  
    • Mikee T
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:39am

      And you’re proud of all of that…….huh ? God Bless You Pal…….I’ll pray for you and others like you, hope it helps…..

      Report Post »  
    • charliego
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:50am

      @Beck-i-snuts
      SO, proud of this are you? By the way your first entry and second do not appear synonymous with your declared purpose. Kids out of control–hmmmm could that be duplicitous messages through the usurped education system or, excuse me, propagandizing and revisionist history. You reap what you sow. America’s eyes are opening!

      Report Post » charliego  
    • The Patriot
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:00pm

      Thanks for proving our point you are responsible for the current condition of the schools

      Report Post »  
    • 7.62AirMailComeGetIt
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:07pm

      Remember This You may think you have the children, But remember THE PARENTS are waking up.
      Now comes the trouble THE BEAST (America) HAS AWOKEN, and your admission of indoctrination only throws a few more million gallons of gas on the fire that has created this great NATION. You are sadly mistaken if you think we will lay down and let this happen.. We The People will end the teachers union and tenure. Or a simple solution HOME SCHOOL.. In the end the LEFT WILL LOSE. and the PEOPLE will WIN.

      Report Post »  
    • Robbedagain
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 12:48pm

      Beckisnuts= LOSER

      Report Post »  
    • RN MOM
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 10:18am

      Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. I am so sure you don’t have kids because you have no idea how eerily correct you are. Except you forgot the ritalin part; How lazy(AKA liberal) teachers push parents to medicate their kids so that they are quiet in class, they start that in kindergarten, in other professions it is called a “chemical restraint”. In teaching it is called “treating ADD”. ADD diagnosis’s are soaring and the country is confused as to why, I’ll tell you why: the liberal teachers are boring as hell- and ADD most times is the response to the mind numbing boredom found in the classroom.

      Report Post » RN MOM  
  • johnnyfive
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:17am

    LOL, try and bring up the bible anytime something sinister happens. That’ll get those pesky Christians to stop helping others!

    Report Post »  
  • blanco
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:17am

    Don’t they have a weeding process that would have never allowed this guy to sub in the first place???

    Report Post »  
    • cavalla
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:18am

      yes they have a weeding process….it is termed smoke it.

      Report Post »  
  • PGBlazer
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:16am

    Clearly Beck, Palin, Limbaugh, and their inflammatory rhetoric are to blame.

    Report Post »  
    • American exceptionalism
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:45am

      Yeah , I‘m sure the kids were trying to show him how to use a blackboard like Glenn’s, there is the Beck connection.. :~)

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
  • RoAdFiXeR
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:13am

    Never mess with someones kid when his dad has a backhoe, they won’t find the body…..

    Report Post » RoAdFiXeR  
    • spec650
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 12:39pm

      @roadfixer, thats funny people aren’t scared of doing bad things anymore. Lawyers, Unions and others jump in to help get them out of “their” situation. This man should be jailed.

      Report Post » spec650  
  • Skwerl E. Muckenfutch
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:11am

    As much as I would love to punt a crumb cruncher, I don’t because its wrong.. Enjoy your stay at the Graybar Hotel on the taxpayer’s dime.

    Report Post »  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:10am

    Got to luv those union teachers…..don’t worry this sob will never see the inside of a jail cell…..

    Report Post »  
  • BECKISNUTS
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:10am

    Some kids deserve to be handled to get the point across. Kids today are out of line starting at a very young age. You Beckenites have too much compassion.

     
    • lbsm
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:22am

      wow…really? a 7 yr old deserves to get “handled”? by punching them? you…disgust me!!!

      Report Post » lbsm  
    • 912828Buckeye
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:33am

      The equipment didn’t work, the guy looses it and manhandles kids trying
      to help. Nice try at stirring the pot NUTS.

      Report Post » 912828Buckeye  
    • N37BU6
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:39am

      You don’t punch a kid in the abdomen. You can rupture their stomach, cause all sorts of other organ damage… that’s way over the line.

      Poor kids.

      Report Post » N37BU6  
    • The Patriot
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:46am

      If you think this is OK you are nuts and you need supervision. You don’t listen to Beck or have any idea what this country is all about. You are just a agitator that uses your anonymity here to stir up trouble. Take this to the streets and find out how long you last. Oh I‘m sorry I for got that’s way your here.

      Report Post »  
    • 7.62AirMailComeGetIt
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:47am

      A Parents job is to discipline , I DARE you to put your hand on my child…….
      and i will remove it from the rest of your body, snap it in half, NO ONE has a right to put their hands on anyones children. you doubt my word TOUCH either of MY CHILDREN

      Report Post »  
    • RN MOM
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 10:09am

      Giggle, giggle. You are such an instigator!

      Report Post » RN MOM  
  • Rn mom
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:06am

    There are plenty of people who are teachers who do not belong anywhere near kids! Combine an easy college degree with high salary (although I don’t think Florida has a high paying teaching salaries) and huge amounts of time-off and 6 hour work days. I think I want to be a teacher too!

    Report Post » RN MOM  
    • bry
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:42am

      @RNMOM, me too! That is one sweet job! Summers and Holidays off! Whoo Hoo!

      Teaching is a calling, just like being an RN, however, it is to easy in the teaching profession to get in without ever having the calling. Nurses are a different story, if you are not called, you will never make it. I LOVE RN’s, can you tell?

      Report Post » bry  
    • RN MOM
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 8:45pm

      Thanks! That made me smile.

      Report Post » RN MOM  
  • ilovetheusa1
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:05am

    another Obama drone in action.

    Report Post »  
    • dwh320
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:28am

      Suspended? That was all they did so far? Must be in the NEA Union contract that the school cant terminate a teacher without a hearing… even in a case of child abuse. The teachers right to be in the school supersedes that of the student. Good ol NEA watches out for their own.

      Report Post » dwh320  
  • Eaglesnest
    Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:04am

    scumbag, enjoy prison, they love child abusers.

    Report Post » Eaglesnest  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:08am

      I’m sure this probably tenured teacher already has his union provided legal team warming up to defend his perfectly suitable actions against the terribly threatening children…..pffftttttttt.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:14am

      Somehow, if this guy is not kept in a protective custody or isolation from the rest of the inmates, they will deal with him. To harm a child is one of the highest crimes that can be committed ever.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • 912828Buckeye
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:16am

      How is it you can look at someone, know they are not right in the head and yet they walk the street till something like this happens. Thank goodness only bumps and bruises.

      Report Post » 912828Buckeye  
    • byehlik
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:21am

      Union? I am sure he is tenured. Enough said.

      Report Post » byehlik  
    • dwh320
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:23am

      The NEA will be all over the school if they dont drop ALL charges against on of the saintly members.

      Report Post » dwh320  
    • American exceptionalism
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:28am

      F-in JERK !!!!!! This guy was just pissed that the second graders were smarter than him..
      How in the world this this idiot get through the screening ?? Or do they just let anyone with a degree, in Sarasota, Substitute for teachers ? WTF? is this country coming to ? I’m really Pissed off at this.. sorry for my language fellow Blazers, but that’s how I felt writing my comment..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:53am

      Don’t worry, he probably has tenure and the union will have him back in the classroom soon – to hell with the children!

      Report Post »  
    • Hondaman
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:58am

      Boy, do they ever like child molesters. He will get attention he never knew about

      Report Post »  
    • UlyssesP
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:11am

      Why is he around children? He should be guarding inmates at Guantanamo.

      Report Post » UlyssesP  
    • 7.62AirMailComeGetIt
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:38am

      Give me 10 minutes in a room with him, hell no Disgusting POS

      Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:42am

      Suspended….not fired. I‘m sure he’s still drawing pay in the union “job pool”, and will be reinstated after some “sensitivity counseling” for his issues. he’s just a victim. /end sarcasm

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • Wayner
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:47am

      The violent rhetoric of Sara Palin and Glenn Beck have done it again

      Report Post »  
    • 1proudAmerican
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 11:49am

      This man is a SUBSTITUTE teacher. He can‘t have tenure and the union can’t protect him since he is not on the teachers’ contract. Just about anyone can apply to be a sub and most don’t have the knowledge to do the job.

      Report Post »  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 1:33pm

      Whats the story here? Its a Government School and he is a Government School Teacher. If your not home schooling your kids then you are part of the problem.

       
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 2:06pm

      I homeschool…but would rather clean up our schools to allow my little girl to go…but with things like this…NO WAY

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:14pm

      1PROUDAMERICAN, a tenured teacher who has retired can’t come back as a substitute teacher? I have a brother-in-law(a tenured professor) who goes back and teaches classes.

      Report Post »  
    • avenger
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 3:14pm

      chill out…this public school education at its best…wait till the nea comes to the rescue….

      Report Post »  
    • J.C. McGlynn
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 4:23pm

      To G.L.Mom: I believe this is what happens when religion is removed from peoples lives. Simply put, No religion means No morals.

      Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 6:47pm

      Pushed over the edge by the hate speech of talk radio. MSM is quickly trying to determine his; party affiliation, if he ever attended a Tea Party, his past voting record, and it goes on and on and on. Sadly, this guy still has more morals than Michael Moore, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Bill Mahr, and Chrissy Matthews COMBINED.

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • Sledgehammer
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 6:56pm

      May I suggest public flogging? Cheaper, to the point, and a clearer message!

      Report Post » Sledgehammer  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 8:06pm

      .if you could possibly homeschool your children or grandchildren…I highly recommend it…K12 is a good public school program at home…available in alot of states…if I can do it…pretty much anybody can :0)

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on January 15, 2011 at 10:08pm

      not a big fan of religion….man made thing and all…but do know what ya mean…seems like alot of people have lost purpose in their lives and thats soooo sad..I find purpose just about everywhere and thank God…

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • Ryan Beaulieu
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 2:09am

      This man’s actions were due to climate change. The same climate change responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire. Surely you can’t sentence a man to prison who had no control of his actions by the sick and vicious cycle of climate change…

      Report Post »  
    • LadybugsTX
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 2:38am

      Wait… Did they say “suspended”?

      Report Post » IMPEACH GEORGE SOROS!!  
    • LadybugsTX
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 2:39am

      Wait…. Clearly there’s an explanation for this. It was that evil Sarah Palin and her cross-hairs that made him do it…. Ok, now I understand.

      Report Post » IMPEACH GEORGE SOROS!!  
    • 1proudAmerican
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 12:26pm

      Grandmaof5 – of course retired tenured teachers can substitute, but their tenure and the union no longer support them because they retired.

      Report Post »  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 4:18pm

      @Godlovinmom: We used K12 for many years and were able to keep our kids several years ahead of their peers in the Government schools. It is an outstanding program and can be supplemented with moral education as well. I like your comment “if I can do it…pretty much anybody can :0)”.
      It can be intimidating at first because we are told it takes a masters degree to teach ABC‘s and 123’s. When we home school our kids we learn that all it takes is a loving parent and two to four hours a day to keep our kids ahead of grade level. Couple this with educational field trips and vacations and your kids get an education that is unequaled in Government schools.

      Report Post »  
    • godlovinmom
      Posted on January 16, 2011 at 10:30pm

      NEOFAN…right on…what a blessing you have! I wish others could feel like I do…it is rewarding…sometimes tough…but anything worthwhile…. sometimes is…God Bless…

      Report Post » godlovinmom  
    • jamesctheman
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 11:31am

      Sometimes mob rule isn’t a bad thing. Like in the case of us marching to this guys house to show him how we feel about child abusers. If this happened in Texas I don’t think he could make it out of the state fast enough before someone would catch up to him.

      Report Post » jamesctheman  
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