Teacher Accused Of Assault On Student Who Didn't Stand For Pledge

LAFAYETTE, CO — A Colorado middle school teacher is reportedly on paid leave following allegations that she apparently assaulted a student who did not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Karen Smith, a physical education teacher at Angevine Middle School in Lafayette, is on paid administrative leave following the alleged incident that took place Thursday, The Times Call reported. Lafayette police confirmed to the paper that officers responded to the school at around noon on Thursday and are investigating a report of a teacher assaulting a student for not standing during the pledge.

Boulder Valley School District spokesman Randy Barber told the paper that the district's policy was to allow students to sit or stand during the pledge.

The school district is working with police to investigate the matter. The school's principal sent a letter to parents notifying them there had been an incident involving the teacher.

A parent picking up her child from the school on Friday told CBS Denver her daughter has known Smith to be a strict teacher but never had an issue. Two other parents told the news channel they believed the story has been blown out of proportion.

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