High school teacher with 40-year career barred from campus after slapping student in the face

A high school teacher in Elkhart, Indiana, has been barred from campus and has entered into early retirement after he was caught on school surveillance video slapping a student across the face.

What are the details?

In a contentious school board meeting Monday night, Baugo Community Schools accepted longtime social studies teacher Mike Hosinski's early retirement and allowed him to collect his pension, according to the South Bend Tribune. The decision was reportedly applauded by dozens of parents who defended the teacher's reputation but did not condone his behavior.

Hosinski had been caught on video assaulting a student in a hallway of Jimtown High School on Feb. 25. The teacher of 40 years had reportedly confronted the student about a hoodie he wore to class when words were exchanged. Then Hosinski struck the student, causing his head to slam into the wall behind him. Moments later, the student crumpled to the floor.

Jimtown High School teacher slaps studentyoutu.be

"The slap caused the student’s head to strike the wall; the student suffered visible injuries," the district said in a press release on Friday. "Medical staff immediately treated the student."

School administrators said they promptly reported the incident to the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, both of which immediately started investigations into the matter.

In the press release, the district added that, as of Friday, Hosinski was "no longer employed by Baugo Community Schools and is not permitted on school grounds."

The note led many to believe that Hosinski had been fired, sparking backlash in the community. But in a subsequent statement, Superintendent Byron Sanders shared that Hosinski had "submitted a request that his retirement be effective immediately."

What else?

Monday's board meeting reportedly started with fireworks after a man who identified himself as the student's father entered the building in a rage, shouting expletives at administrators before being escorted out.

"A grown, 280-pound man smacked my son in the face!" the parent allegedly shouted after he was approached by the superintendent.

But Hosinski had his share of defenders, according to the South Bend Tribune. The outlet said several parents who spoke at the meeting said Hosinski's actions, though appalling, were indicative of a larger problem, which they claimed was a lack of support for teachers in their efforts to discipline unruly students.

WSBT-TV reported that students arranged a walkout from school Monday morning in support of Hosinski. Additionally, a Change.org petition with more than 1,300 signatures was launched to save the educator's retirement pension and tenure.

One student told WSBT that the student who was attacked is a "troubled student" who often cusses out and disrespects authorities. Even so, Hosinski should never have laid hands on him, she added.

Anything else?

In 2020, Hosinski was named Teacher of the Year, according to a Jimtown High School social media post.

But the South Bend Tribune noted that Hosinski's conduct as a teacher has been criticized at least one other time in recent history.

According to the outlet, in 2019, the Northern Indiana Atheists announced they would file a complaint after a parent told them that Hosinski had made political statements in class.

"Hillary and Obama are criminals, President Donald Trump is great, and Democrats are liars," he reportedly told students.