A Hood News Peep says her son was left severely bruised and emotionally traumatized after allegedly being paddled three times by a football coach at Memorial High School in Port Arthur on Saturday. According to her, she had never signed a consent form.
Her son missed practice Friday because she was recovering from a serious car accident and had no transportation for him. They live several miles away. She said her son had explained the situation to his coaches.
The mother alleges several adults were present when her son was told to bend over a table inside an office. She said he did not know he was about to be struck. According to her, he was disciplined for missing practice, communication issues and wearing the wrong-colored football pants.
She also alleges the school did not provide its corporal-punishment paperwork until afterward. She was asked to sign it following the incident, but she refused because she had not approved the punishment beforehand.
Here is a photo that shows bruising that became darker and more swollen. His mother said the incident left him afraid and embarrassed to return to school and no longer interested in playing football. The teen has since returned to stay with his father in another area.
The mother met with Police today, and a report was filed.
The coach and school district have not provided their accounts. It has not been independently confirmed whether the district’s corporal-punishment policy applied or required parental permission. No criminal charges have been announced.
