Maitland Grossman High ‘brawl video’ teacher Michael Kable ‘suffered abuse for years’

A high school industrial arts teacher who has been charged with allegedly scuffling with a student in the classroom has copped ‘countless amounts of verbal and physical abuse’ over his career, supporters have claimed. 

Michael Kable, 62, was arrested on Tuesday night following reports a pupil at Maitland Grossman High School, in the NSW Hunter region, had been assaulted in class about 2pm. 

Video quickly surfaced of the alleged classroom brawl where Mr Kable appears to throw paper balls at the student, say ‘come on mate’ and grab his collar.

The teacher then allegedly pulled the student over his desk before his classmates intervened, leading to angry words being exchanged, several kids yelling at Mr Kable and a student throwing his desk at him. 

Mr Kable was charged with common assault last night and has been hit with an apprehended violence order, believed to have been made for the protection of the student involved. 

He was granted conditional bail and is due to face court next month. 

A Change.org online petition has since been launched calling for ‘justice’ for Mr Kable, claiming the footage does not show the full ‘context’ of what happened to him in the classroom. 

Police were called to Maitland Grossmann High School, north-west of Newcastle, about 2pm on Tuesday with the entire incident captured on video

‘Throughout his career Mr Kable has suffered from numerous and countless amounts of verbal and physical abuse from students,’ an anonymous supporter claims. 

‘But due to the weak and inconsistent school punishment system they only get a ‘slap on the wrist’ as punishment.’

The organiser claimed students who play up to teachers are aiming to get time off by being suspended. 

They also alleged a table had been thrown at Mr Kable and he was being verbally abused and pushed and shoved in the lead up to the alleged attack. 

‘Mr Kable does NOT deserve to lose his job, his family, his reputation and most importantly his life,’ the page continues. 

‘All support is appreciated to help Mr Kable in overcoming such (setbacks).’

The petition has attracted almost 300 signatures since it was set up on Tuesday night – around 60 per cent of its 500 goal. 

Members of the community have thrown their support behind the teacher 

The teacher can be seen throwing paper balls back at a student from a close distance before saying ‘come on mate’ and grabbing his collar 

Daily Mail Australia has sought comment from Maitland Grossmann High School. The Department of Education is investigating.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns was asked about the incident after a video posted on social media showed the classroom scuffle.

‘I don’t know the circumstances,’ Mr Minns told Nine’s Today show on Wednesday.

‘Teachers have never been under so much pressure.

‘Discipline in school is important. Part of that is ensuring that when teachers make a call to principals they are backed up.

‘If there are examples of that in NSW education, we have to make sure the teachers are backed up.’

The teacher was given conditional bail to appear before Maitland Local Court on April 6. 

Mr Kable is due to face court later this month