Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Choking Student in Classroom Incident

A teacher in Arkansas has been arrested following an incident where he reportedly choked a student who repeatedly called him “bull.” This confrontation was recorded on video during class.

Tracy Matthews, 56, who teaches at Wonder Middle School in West Memphis, faces charges of aggravated assault as of April 15. The altercation began when the teacher asked a student about a computer, to which she replied by using the slang term, as reported by local police.

The situation escalated after the student told Matthews, “Well, I don’t have a computer.”

In a fit of anger, Matthews reportedly exclaimed, “I’m not your tyrant. I’m your teacher,” but the student countered with, “That’s awful, that’s awful.” The teacher then grabbed her by the shirt and slammed her against a desk.

Following this, the student fled the classroom, prompting Matthews to chase after her. According to police accounts, he then grabbed her by the neck, pushed her against a wall, and strangled her.

After the incident, the student reported the attack to the principal, who reviewed the surveillance footage and contacted law enforcement.

The West Memphis School District described the episode as an “isolated” incident but didn’t clarify whether Matthews is still on staff.

One local resident, James Barber, voiced his outrage, stating that just because some children might be seen as “unruly,” it does not justify such behavior. He insisted that Matthews should face consequences for his actions, saying, “Anger should be left at home, not at school or work.”

Matthews was reportedly released on bail shortly after his arrest at the Crittenden County Jail, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.