Kentucky Teacher-Lawmaker Critically Injured Trying to Break Up High School Fight
- Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:41pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky legislator who is also a high school teacher was critically injured Tuesday trying to break up a fight between two students.
State Rep. Dewayne Bunch, 49, was punched in the head and fell to the cafeteria floor, hitting his head on the tile, Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said.
“He ran over there very quickly and ran right into the punch,” Harrell said. “… When his head hit the floor, he sustained more injury.”
Bunch was in “extremely critical” condition at a local hospital before being taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. A spokeswoman there said Bunch’s family had requested no information be released about his condition.
The two boys involved in the fight, ages 15 and 16, were charged with one count of first-degree assault and two counts of third-degree assault, and have been taken to a juvenile detention center, the sheriff said.
A surveillance camera caught most of the fight and showed Bunch being hit by the 16-year-old, the sheriff said. It wasn’t clear what sparked the fight, which began as breakfast was being served to dozens of students.
The boys kept fighting after Bunch was knocked out. Two other teachers were also struck, but were able to stop the fight. Neither the students nor the two teachers needed medical attention.
Bunch, a Republican elected last fall, defeated longtime legislator Charles Siler, a Democrat, and represents Whitley County and part of Laurel County in the southeastern part of the state. He has taught math and science at Whitley County High for 17 years.
County schools held a moment of silence for Bunch.
“Our entire school district family remains in prayer for Dewayne and his family,” said Whitley County school Superintendent Scott Paul.
The House adjourned March 24. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Bunch was teaching while he was serving in the House.
Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo called it a sad day.
“I hope he will be able to recover from this horrific situation,” the Democrat said in a statement. “I enjoyed working with Dewayne when the General Assembly was in session and found him to be an excellent advocate for his constituents.”
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Comments (107)
donh2
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:55pmI pray for Mr Bunch’s survival. However, after Mr. Boehner’s cowardly performance in negotiating budget cuts, I have to say Mr Bunch symbolized the miserable wimpiness infecting the Republican party leadership. I would bet a five year old boy could punch a dozen of these grown male namby pamby republicans to the floor with one hand tied behind his back…There is scarcely a fighter in the whole lot. I bet Michelle Bachmann would have decked both of those highschool PUNKS.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:03amLet them try that with an Allen West.
Report Post »smithedwards
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:39pmYou really hate to think things like that, but it kinda makes the National Guard look bad. Maybe I don’t know all the details, but it doesn’t sound like he knew how to break up a fight or to how to even fight.
Report Post »megsmom
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:55pmMy prayers are with Mr. Bunch and his family. What a senseless crime…And what a terrible, terrible example the Wisconsin teachers and their union thugs were to our students on the subject of “bullying!” ~God help us!
Report Post »monkeymom
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:50pmTeachers need to start carrying pepper spray.
Report Post »The Big Pickle
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:46pmIt seems to me the Southern Whites knew what they were talking about when they didn’t want black students intregrated into the White Schools. Desegregation has destoryed the American Public School System.
Report Post »mrlogan3
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:34amI agree. Damn negros acting like animals and impeding the learning of others.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:59amYou two are hilarious. Go cash your Soros check, your crack dealer is waiting.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:00amOh, and you should have a doctor look at having The Big Pickle removed. I don’t believe that orifice is designed for that.
Report Post »DonaldH
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 5:46amsouthern whites?? I believe the last mass demostration protesteing desegragation I saw was in Boston-1972
Report Post »psst
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:39pmBreakfast being served?
Report Post »Why the hell can’t kids get breakfast at home? How hard is it to open a packet of Grits and dump some hot water on it, or a bowl of flakes and some toast or some frozen waffles in a toaster.
No wait; that waaaaay tooo hard to do.
Some(too many) people keep on keeping on making kids they can’t afford.
We’ve got to stop this sheet.
If the government is gonna keep on subsidizing the making of chirrens. The country will keep on getting more chilluns than the government (aka taxpayers) can afford.US can’t afford them right now, plus all the chirrens of illegals to boot.
Why are the taxpayers paying for breakfast at schools for chireens that are NOT theirs?
Why not make all public sKrool chirrens not only eat breakfast and lunch at sKrools, but also supper.
In fact, why not let them sleep there?That way, they won’t get in the way when their maw and whomever are making more of them at home.
As a plus, when the chirrens/chilluns get their 3 squares a day plus sleeping quarters and laundry too, US can save $$ by eliminating all these sKrool buses and Mother (Earth) will be happy,as less evil oil will be needed to make petrol.
Of course, since the bus drivers are unionized, they can keep getting their paychecks, even though they won’t have to work for it.
Veritas
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:32pmStop using Scott Baker’s video! It never works!!
Report Post »WHITE LOTUS2x
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:30pmThey didnt give enough info.Lotus.
Report Post »ED4237
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:18pmThese two kids need someone at home to be teaching some discipline. Why are they eating at school instead of at home thats where I ate before school. Did this school have any security there sounds like they need it to keep all people safe. They better hope this man gets better and dosen’t die then they wish they had some discipline when they hit the big boys prison.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:10pmThoughts and prayers for Rep. Bunch and his family. Time to arm teachers with tasers. This garbage from violent juveniles has to stop.
Report Post »delhoghe
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:06pmIt’s a wonder anyone wants to be a teacher anymore.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:05pmThis altercation should have been stopped with a canister of pepper spray the size of a fire extinguisher. But oh no, that would be excessive and unreasonable. Now the wrong person is fighting for his life and the violent little b@st@rds will probably do 2 years in juvenile detention.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:04pmFor many decades now, there have been so many public schools that are actually dangerous to teach at. To stand in front of a class of haters. Rethinking that career path. Teachers can be brave like police and fire fighters are. (Emphasis on “can be” – a lot are just bad teachers).
Report Post »TheBeezKnow
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:03pmWe’ll be praying for him and his family.
Report Post »orlandojon
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:03pmWhy do the parents need food stamps if the tax payers are already feeding their kids at least two meals a day?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:12pmWhy do the parents need food stamps if the tax payers are already feeding their kids at least two meals a day?
Report Post »——————–
because America is a mean country ?
because America is a racist country ?
not-a-lib
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:02pmGood thing law-abiding citizens aren’t allowed to carry guns in schools… yes, we should have the right to protect ourselves from even violent “kids”…
Report Post »Lt_Taz
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:01pmI pray that the merciful and loving Lord watch over Mr. Bunch and his family.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:58pmThey are just “kids” after all…..children are feeling the pressures more than us adults..American Idle sure can’t help there underdevelopped minds!
Report Post »EyeofthePatriot
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:40amYou are giving them WAY too much credit. Parents are to blame but so are these dag-gone “kids” as you call them. Try them as adults as they have committed an ADULT crime and knew exactly what they were doing. Or they wouldn’t have kept fighting afterwards…
Report Post »Motherforlife
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:36pmSeven years old is the age of reason (of course their are exceptions). If a person doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong or care, by the time they are 15, they likely never will unless, by some miracle, they find God.
Report Post »gdbhusker
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:57pmtry them both as adults and throw those animals in prison for life!!!! they not only punched this guy, but “several” other teachers as well???? they have no control…like raging little animals that belong in a cage or put down!!!!!
Report Post »AmeriCat
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:14amThese young adults continued fighting even after they struck the teacher
Report Post »and he had fallen to the floor.
Yes, try them as adults.
So sad. Prayers for Rep Bunch and his family. What a good man!
Motherforlife
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:33pm“Animals” was the exact term that popped into my head when I read this article. Shame on these young men, shame on their parents for their obvious neglect and failure in raising their children!
Report Post »WE NEED GOD BACK IN OUR CULTURE! PARENTS TEACH YOUR CHILDREN! It is your responsibility to teach YOUR children right from wrong, NOT the schools.
GeorgieJo
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:57pmRep Bunch taught math and science
Report Post »Prayers for him and his family
Marylou7
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:56pmOur public schools are just getting too out of hand. May our Lord Jesus please be with Mr. Bunch and bring him to a complete recovery.
Report Post »TOPOFTHEGAME
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:56pmThis is something none of the Unions,teachers,parents are talking about in or schools “”“DISCIPLINE””". I hope and pray the head injuries are minor.
Report Post »AWAKENEDAWARE
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:14amYeah, well, if you would read the article. The injuries are NOT minor. The perps should be tried as adults and/or dragged into the town square WITH their “parents” and HUNG! This society is SO FAR off the chain that we cannot reconnect with the basics until we CONTROL the crap on the surface. How many Christmases have all of us waited for the INEVITABLE gang violence incident at the opening of the WalMart sales so some idiot that can‘t afford it beat the crud out of someone ELSE that can’t afford it to get the newest toy for 100 dollars off? It has happened for YEARS now, and the CHILDREN are the spawn of these WalMart brawlers. We are in a world of hurt.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:56pm“A surveillance camera caught most of the fight and showed Bunch being hit by the 16-year-old, the sheriff said. It wasn’t clear what sparked the fight, which began as breakfast was being served to dozens of students.”
Why is breakfast being served in schools? Where are the parents…oh, wait…I guess they’re too busy with their own self-serving lives to be concerned about providing breakfast for their children. Let alone teaching them not to be animals. The “children” and the parents should be held responsible for these acts.
Report Post »The Big Pickle
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:08pmIn the Capital City of Wisconsin, 90 percent of the black students in the public schools are on free food. My guess is they are using free breakfast as a ploy to get the black kids to actually come to the school.
Report Post »SHASTADIANE1
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:18pmI have a 17 yr old grandson…he lives with my son who lives behind me…I get out of the bed and before I go to work, I fix breakfast for this kid or provide it, because his Dad is already at work…All this story tells me is that there are a lot of people out there who are depending on public assistance to provide for their children, and that the kids are punks who have not been raised right..or they would not have been in a physical confrontation at all…Bully’s and thugs are the ones who resort to violence to solve their problems, not normal thoughtful responsible people.
Report Post »scottu
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:21pmThat makes way too much sense!
Report Post »scottu
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:24pmWhat, are you crazy, that would make way too much sense!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:30pmIts a good thing these young men are being served their breakfast in school.
Report Post »Who would want then @ a Dennys or IHOP
marine249
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:44pmCHEEZWHIZ
then we could have a real smoker
Report Post »V-Forge
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:55pmWell he was a republican so i’m sure they will expect no charges. I hope the two brats spend some time where the fights don’t get broken up so fast. i have no need for this trash in my country. drop them in a hole and pray for the good guy.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:49pmAnd ran into the punch? I don’t think so. I hope he recovers.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:45pmThis is so sad….Prayers.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:53pmIt wasn’t clear what sparked the fight, which began as breakfast was being served to dozens of students.
Report Post »—————–
Why does it feel like the parents of these students wake up @ 11 AM
( MahaRushie sayeth :O )
Taquoshi
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 10:57pmOur family suffered through the same type of situation when a young cousin walking down a city street was sucker punched during a bar fight that spilled out into the street. C. nearly died and now the 22 year old assailant is facing 10-15 years in the slammer.
To the family – you are in my prayers and thoughts.
To the assailants – Have a good time in juvie and pray your actions don’t turn into a manslaughter charge.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:02pmBring back the BOARD of education…and fire the lawyers…
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:04pmEverybody please say a prayer for him .
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:19pmYes prayers indeed for this man,God help him to recover fully and i pray the two young men find Jesus
Report Post »scottu
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:19pmwhy does it seem like this was a prison and he got between the 2 inmates and took the shiv?
Report Post »I guess I can see into the future.
Seems like public schools are learning institutions after all. They can’t compete in the things they are there to learn but hey, do not challenge our inmates with anything important a need to get by in the hood. I will bet we get strait A’s there.
Showtime
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:41pmI will most certainly pray for Dewayne Bunch.
I will also pray for those students. I certainly hope the kids LEARN something from this: Violence is not the best way to solve problems, particularly if you are in school; and if they are made to pay for Rep. Bunch’s medical bills by working their butts off, perhaps they will learn that decisions come with responsibility.
This is sad.
Report Post »Kurty C Wipe
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:44pmRepublican school teacher, Wow, thats an honor in its self. Godspeed. Thank you for your service!
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on April 12, 2011 at 11:45pmIt IS sad and prayers are going up for him and his family.
On another note, students are dangerous so we need to ban students. Either that or make it a law saying that students are not allowed within 1000 yards of teacher or politician.
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:27amThe boys’ lack of restraint and respect for an adult who was trying to stop the fight is not surprising anymore. They see violence every day on tv, and often practice using violence in their video games. Until society recognizes how the children are being subverted and swayed by media, tragedies like this will continue to occur.
Adults have to let Hollywood and game producers know that they have to stop making money at the expense of our children, or we will boycott them until they do. Adults will have to make that choice for the children’s sake.
I salute the teacher that was so badly injured because he was trying to do the right thing. He intervened to keep the boys from hurting each other further. I bet he is just as dedicated to the students in his classroom.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:28amI am praying for him and his family. This is horrible. He would not have been in any defensive pose because Lord knows he could not have defended himself from these precious students.Teachers can only take what the students shove at them because the students now run the schools and the teachers and admiinistrators are so afraid of law suits that they can’t say or do anything.I hope they are punished to the fullest extent of the law and in my opinion the parents deserve a lot of the blame for this.
Report Post »Quack Addict
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:31amI definately pray for all who suffer needlessly. Did you hear what the politician said being interviewed at the hospital? “it‘s a pretty good size community but it’s a small community too.” What? That makes no sense dude! Politicians are such gobbleygoop double talkers.
Report Post »slimster
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 1:05amHe got a medal serving in the army only to come home and get treated like this by the kids he was teaching to be the next generation:( that is sad. prayers for him.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 8:48amTeachers need combat pay anymore…dang the man survives Iraq, gets a bronze star and hoodlums right here in the good ol USA take him out?! Our family is praying for Rep Bunch. Another sad day for America, and it’s future generation.
Report Post »Cptnjarhead
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:22am@ RESTOREHOPE
Report Post »Oh not this again!
Blame society, blame Hollywood and of course violent video games, but not the parents or the 15 and 16 year kids that need discipline and definitely know what is right and wrong.
My son has played violent video games, watched violent cartoons, violent movies and has never committed any violence against anyone.
He is now in the military, should we ban them too, because they promote violence?
I grew up watching bugs bunny and a bunch of other violent cartoons, played violet video games and never had an itch to commit violence, because my father would have whooped my ass and I knew that was NOT acceptable behavior.
People need to STOP blaming everyone else and take responsibility for their children and their own actions.
Lara
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:08pmHow about the news honoring this man like the woman that was shot in the head in Arizona! Guess he isn’t democratic enough! Parents need to show this to their children.. If more parents would let their kids see the results of actions when they are really young, rather than holding them from seeing these results because of how violent, maybe kids would think twice before putting people in danger! This country has nothing but a bunch of Pansies! Stand up for something people. Teach your kids GOD, MORALS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND that there is a consequence for everything you choose to do!~
Prayers for this man who was doing his job, trying to protect these same 2 kids that are now charged and maybe facing prison time for a stupid decision that could have been prevented had they been more mature about things. I would love to know why they were fighting. Prob over something stupid, like u call my mom a name? or Did you just give me the finger? or, My girlfriend hates your girlfriend! or, did you touch my chair? DUH stupid idiots!
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