Teacher caught brawling with students in classroom admits his actions were ‘shameful’ as he learns his fate
- Michael Kable, 62, sentenced for punching a student
- Video of the incident shows him pulling a student over a desk
- Sentenced to 18-month community correction order
- Will no longer be able to continue teaching
A substitute teacher said the way he acted when a brawl broke out in his classroom was ‘shameful’ as he was sentenced for his actions.
Michael Kable, 62, was handed an 18-month community corrections order for punching a student during an altercation at Maitland Grossman High School, near Newcastle in the NSW Hunter region on March 21.
He will no longer be allowed to continue teaching as a result of the sentence and criminal conviction handed down on Friday.
Disturbing footage of the incident recorded by a student, shows the teacher grabbing a child by his shirt and pulling him over a desk – before another student then threw another desk toward him.
A second video emerged a short time later, which showed the teacher holding handful of paper balls that appear to have been thrown at him by a student during class.
Teacher Michael Kable (pictured days after the incident) was filmed punching a student during an out-of-control brawl at Maitland Grossman High School in March
Mr Kable then can be heard saying ‘do you understand me? Stop doing it’, before the student throws another paper ball at him.
The video shows students yelling at the teacher before a table was thrown at him.
The court heard the former teacher was of good character.
His lawyer Cameron Duncan argued the former casual teacher was assigned to teach the class without any instructions.
He was also not made aware that six students were on behavioural management plans, the court heard.
His lawyer told the court students formed a pack and misbehaved for half an hours, throwing paper, pens, pencil cases and a desk at the fill-in teacher.
Mr Kable then retaliated in a way that was ‘quite shameful’, the court heard.
The former substitute teacher is ‘shameful’ of his actions in the classroom that day
Mr Kable (pictured arriving at court on Friday) can’t return to teaching after he received a criminal conviction
‘Being a teacher is a pretty difficult job at the moment, being a casual teacher is even harder and the situation is made worse when the casual teacher isn’t provided with appropriate plans,’ Mr Duncan said.
Thounsands, including former students signed a Change.org petition in support of Mr Kable after the video went viral, claiming the footage did not show the context of the altercation and that the teacher was being ‘defamed’ and had regularly suffered physical and verbal abuse from students.
Magistrate Ron Maiden noted Mr Kable’s good character but said he was in a position of trustand the victim was a ‘vulnerable person.’
He also admitted Mr Kable may also now face difficulty finding employment in other industries.
Mr Kable refused to comment on the sentence as he left court.
He previously told Daily Mail Australia that there two sides to every story but ultimately admitted he ‘did the wrong thing’.
Michael Kable (left) was handed an 18-month community corrections order when he faced court on Friday
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