A male student of Titchfield High, in Portland, was yesterday suspended for 10 days for allegedly hitting a male teacher with a chair, during an incident on Tuesday at the school.

Four other male students, who were involved in another incident at that school on Tuesday, were taken in for questioning by members of the Island Special Constabulary Force for the alleged beating of an 11th grade student.

Emergency meeting

Acting principal of Titchfield, Richard Thompson, told The Gleaner the student was suspended following an emergency meeting held yesterday at the school.

He also said the incident had emotionally scarred not only students but teachers who were concerned about antisocial behaviour being displayed by students.

"We took the decision to have that student suspended with immediate effect," Thompson said. "Such behaviour or practice is of much concern among my staff, which from all indications is fearful and tentative. It is an unfortunate incident, especially when a student is spoken to by a teacher, and he or she reacts by throwing a chair at a teacher."

According to reports, a group of boys was spotted in an area at the school that is off limits to students, and a male teacher asked them to disperse. It is alleged that the students were reluctant to move and one of them threw a chair at the teacher, injuring one of his arms. He was taken to the nearby Port Antonio Hospital for treatment.

In the second incident, a student was beaten by a group of other students after they claimed his social background and practices were abnormal.