Chesterfield, VA—Students
are fighting to have embattled Matoaca
Middle School band
teacher Micheal Harrah reinstated, after he was charged with assaulting an
11-year-old student last month.
"This,
to me, was just another step that had to be taken in this case," said 8th-grader
Jackson Green. Jackson
has collected about 450 signatures on a petition to reinstate Harrah to his position.
In
January, Harrah was accused of assaulting a 11-year-old student, and was
charged the next day. Jackson
says he supports his teacher, even while he is facing such a serious charge.
"I'm
a person who stands up for what I believe in and I am not going to back down
easy," Jackson
said determinedly. "I think anybody who knows me knows that."
Harrah
was a good teacher and role model, according to Jackson.
"He
definitely treats all of his students really well, he really is a good
inspirational kind of role." Harrah also taught Jackson to play three different instruments,
and formed the jazz and pep bands at the school.
The
signatures on the petition come from just about every member of the Matoaca
community.
"We have sports guys, we
have the band guys, we have the really smart people, we have everybody on that
list, we have parents on that list as well," Jackson relayed.
Some
students say the incident wasn't an assault, but a misunderstanding. They told
8News that the band director placed his hand on the student's shoulder, and
contact was accidentally made with the face.
The
facts of the case will be hashed out in court on February 27. Stay with 8News
for updates.
Copyright 2013 by Young Broadcasting
of Richmond
