Teacher fight in Clayton sounds like Jerry Springer script
A messy love triangle is one thing, but a brawl in a school with expletives flying in front of students crosses a line. I don’t think the two teachers involved in Monday’s melee belong in classrooms with kids. I would not want my children in their classes. I doubt any other parents would, either.
Unfortunately, the fight between two women over a male teacher who they were both seeing occurred in Clayton County, which doesn’t need any more negative press. (The county’s tarnished reputation is not being helped by school board member Trinia Garrett who is about to go on trial for assaulting her live-in boyfriend.)
I understand that one teacher appears to be the greater aggressor here, but the alleged conduct of both in full view of students is appalling. If the police report is accurate, the incident reflects a stunning lack of professionalism . In fact, the drama sounds like a Jerry Springer script.
According to the AJC story,
The fight broke out Monday morning after the women learned they both were involved with the same male teacher, who also teaches at the school.
Cobb, who told police she is expecting a child with the man, said she found a letter from Smith on the man’s Facebook page.
“I am in love with you. I am tired of being your every blue moon [expletive],” the letter read.
Cobb responded on Facebook with a “tumultuous” message, police said.
On Monday morning, the fight moved from Facebook to the school halls. That’s where Smith approached Cobb and told her to “never do that again,” the report states.
Cobb summoned an assistant principal, but the fight didn’t stop.
Instead, it spilled into a classroom where Smith began to swing at Cobb, the report states.
Several other teachers broke up the fight and Cobb stormed down the hallway while threatening to post the letter on the blackboard.
The assistant principal told police she pulled Cobb into another classroom, with the children present, to calm her down. But Cobb continued to curse in front of the students. That’s when Smith ran into the room again and “attempted to attack” Cobb, the report states.
Police interviewed several students, who said they heard Smith yell “[Expletive], you don’t want none of this” and “get the [expletive] off me” while teachers were holding her down.
After talking to students and teachers, police charged Smith with simple assault and disorderly conduct. Cobb was charged with disorderly conduct.
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136 comments Add your comment
Citizen
October 31st, 2009
1:27 pm
I think you all a making statements based on a situation that you only heard of through the media. Everything we read is not true. None of us really know what happened that day. The media stated it was a “fight”; however, only one woman got charged with simple battery. Battery means that there were no physical exchanges, there was one person’s attempt to harm another. We as educated individuals need to stop speaking on situations or making opinions about people when we don’t know the facts. Do we know what kind of lives these people lead? Do we know anything about their upbringing? Do we know if this is an example of their normal every day character? Neither parties have publicly said anything: neither women, the man or the school system, yet we are speaking on this situation like WE really KNOW the situation. What needs to happen is that we stop complaining and someone needs to pray for ALL parties involved. It could be you the next time. It could be you provoked acting out of character and the media twists your story.
L. Brown
October 31st, 2009
2:18 pm
I guess now Derek will continue his relationship w/his OTHER woman…Idiots!!!
Lee
October 31st, 2009
2:40 pm
I’ve come to the conclusion that the only thing that keeps this from being a Jerry Springer episode is some 300# black woman in the audience saying “Girrrrll. You don’t want ta mess wit him…”
Lee
October 31st, 2009
2:43 pm
You gotta love YouTube….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnhy1B1GcX0&feature=related
FulCoTeach
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
Citizen, I think you have assault and battery confused. “The main distinction between the two offenses is the existence or nonexistence of a touching or contact. While contact is an essential element of battery, there must be an absence of contact for assault.” * http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Assault+and+Battery
Perhaps details are missing, but I agree that most people wouldn’t want these women to have their children in the classroom. If we are held to a higher standard of behavior than others outside the classroom, SURELY we are expected to behave IN any classroom – our own or other’s?
Chocolatestar
October 31st, 2009
4:51 pm
NOT a man-hater, just shows a lack of respect in my opinion for keeping a love letter posted on your site and you are trying to be a player. If she sent it, read it and delete it. Why leave it if the other woman is able to see it! If you wanted to get rid of the woman or women, be a man and cut lose without the drama. It does not matter in my opinion where you live and it is not necessarily the culture, people are human all over the world and this and worst things happen everywhere! COLOR ME HUMAN! See me beyond the color of my skin.
BlackGirl
October 31st, 2009
5:09 pm
@paintman – “Hell yea it has everything to do with race—If you can’t see that–then you are part of the PROBLEM. Wake up America !!!!”
Those are your words, not mine. I don’t see the word “culture” in there. Maybe it was erased by the blog ghost as a Halloween trick!
Apparently you don’t get it…but I won’t resort to name calling. These women should lose their jobs due to their behavior. I don’t care what ethnicity they are. Maybe this can be used as a teachable moment for the students. Hopefully they can learn from their teachers mistakes.
Robert Byrd
October 31st, 2009
5:10 pm
All I have to say is “TNB”
john
October 31st, 2009
5:13 pm
Stay tuned for next weeks episode of “Real educators of Clayton County”
Really, it seems that they could make a great reality show based on all the drama that goes on in the Clayton County School System. I doubt that even script writers could come up with the crazy shenanigans that have gone on down there. At any rate you have to feel sorry for the parents, students and teachers whom are trying to do their best in this mess.
PK
October 31st, 2009
5:14 pm
here is Chaka Cobb facebook page….
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Chaka+Cobb&init=quick#/profile.php?id=766691449
Proud pregnancy…Can’t find the other 2…
West Coast Peach
October 31st, 2009
6:02 pm
Damn, fb pages on blast. LOL, drew hit the nail on the head. No ring, no bueno.
catlady
October 31st, 2009
6:03 pm
We had something similar here about 10 years ago. No black folks involved; both local white girls (we are not a racially diverse county, unless you count the Latinos). Both women kept their jobs–they were given “warnings” in their employment records. I am guessing because they were both local “products.” If they had been from “not around here”, I am guessing they would have been fired.
Reality Mom
October 31st, 2009
6:23 pm
Adults should not act like that. I work in a womens prison though and a lot of them do.
Tony
October 31st, 2009
7:41 pm
It is absolutely fascinating that junk like this gets more blog posts than real educational issues.
keith
October 31st, 2009
8:12 pm
I cannot believe that my son was suspended from school from clayton county. Then you have teachers who absolutely show the same misconduct. Clayton County Board needs to be replace and staff members also. Teachers and staff member in schools don’t care about kids anymore they are just doing it for a paycheck.
`keith
October 31st, 2009
8:23 pm
It’s sad to say but most of the yound black kids getting their education from blacks teacher will not be productive in life. The white man don’t have to do anything to us anymore because we are destroying ourselves. The blacks teachers,rappers,actors,actress who do not teach anything positive is helping destroy our black race.
Citizen
October 31st, 2009
9:48 pm
FulCoTeacher—– do you know how many untruths the media advertises daily. They are a business and they’re job is to get a story. We don’t know facts! Yet, you are placing judgement so quickly! I agree that educators should be placed on a higher standard; I also feel that they should be judged based on FACTS, not personal opinions and not on the media attempting to get a story. How do we know what these individuals taught their kids up until that very moment? How do we know that they are not truly making a difference in the lives of the students? How do we know students aren’t looking at the news saying “they’re lying!” that’s not what happened? I just don’t believe in placing judgement before we know that facts. I don’t think anyone outside of that building will ever know the facts because the ajc, fox 3, wsbtv all have a different spin on the story. This situation can be used to help someone. You may be the next individual (because you are human first) that needs some help. I fault the media because anyone with common sense would know that they are blowing this situation up to a level that it doesn’t need to be blown up. All we know are the events of that day. What else have these ladies done? What are some of there accomplishments? You don’t care, right! You just continue to focus on the negative. That’s what sells and you’re truly buying.
Miss_Lola
November 1st, 2009
1:43 am
When you lose your accreditation it is hard to get and KEEP good people.
Prime example…
Miss_Lola
November 1st, 2009
1:47 am
Keith,
Your post is an essay in grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and general nonsense.
Before posting and trying to make a valid point, get someone to proofread, lest you prove the point you were trying to make, unintentionally.
13 baebayy.!!.
November 1st, 2009
1:48 am
ii tank chakka shulld get in truble .-nd not ebony.
she been wasz startiin stuff….
she neva shulld have replyeed bakk on facebook
.-nd nun of this wulld have happen
.-nd coach green .-ndd msz cobb dun whiit
all he iisz teww herr now iisz herr babii daddii.
singneed numba 13.!
YVONNE REID
November 1st, 2009
2:55 am
I WAS VERY HURT WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS FOR THE KIDS SAKE AND BECAUSE THE TEACHERS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE LEADERS AND EXAMPLES FOR THE KIDS AND RESPECT EACH OTHER AS LEADERS AND TEACHERS. I PRAY THAT THINGS WILL COME TOGETHER.
this to shall pass peace
YVONNE REID
November 1st, 2009
2:59 am
LET’S BE PRAYFUL IT’S BETTER A WHOLE LOT OF WORDS.
clyde
November 1st, 2009
4:51 am
Fisticuffs as grounds for dismissal has been well established,so the two women go.I don’t know if the man can legally be fired.As far as I’m concerned he should be,but I’m not sure he can be.The system’s lawyers have to be consulted and a decision made.If the two women are still teaching there is little hope for this school district.They know not what they do.
Clayton Rules
November 1st, 2009
6:52 am
The lovemaster’s in control of the catfighting Ebony and Chaka! Fo’ shizzle—this is all da problem of da white man, who be keeping these sisters down!
DAVID
November 1st, 2009
8:16 am
CLAYTON COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE BEYOND REDEMPTION…..regardless how the AJC GLOSSies it ..IT IS AN ALL BLACK SCHOOL….ENOUGH SAID.
Steve
November 1st, 2009
8:17 am
Stupid is color blind. Stupid has no business in the classroom.
DAVID
November 1st, 2009
8:21 am
CLAYTON TEACHERS ARE as bad as the inmates they try to teach….CLAYTON IS A FAILED SYSTEM
Citizen
November 1st, 2009
8:21 am
Are you all saying if this was not a fight and only one person was swinging with “fistcuffs” then both women should be fired? A system can only judge them on what happened THAT day in THEIR building. Obviously, one person’s actions where greater than the other. Only one person received a simple battery charge. What would you do or say if someone approached you? Have you ever been pregnant (and this woman is clearly pregnant as seen on her facebook profile picture) and felt threatened? You all amuse me by placing judgement and making decisions based on the unknown. It’s Sunday morning, we all need to send up a few prayers for all parties involved and ourselves too, because no man is clear of fault. What would you do if you were provoked at your job? Do you really know what you would do in a given situation? Most of us have done worse. Most of those students in that building have seen worse. That’s not an excuse, however it is a reality. These people are human; humans make mistakes. We’re saying what should happen, the decision has probably already been made. And they are the only ones who have to live with that. If we choose to isolate one/both of them from our children we may be missing out on a beautiful teaching experience. They may be superb teachers and may be able to let students know that making one simple mistake can possibly make you loose your life line. I’m positive the system will get rid of one or both if the FACTS give them that information. However, WE don’t know facts; just we are judging an event that we did not witness. We all should know how the media blows things out of portion. It’s their job!
DAVID
November 1st, 2009
8:23 am
BLACK MEN NEVER settle for just one woman….they always have a PIECE on the side. Guy is probably married…with children.
Bobbie
November 1st, 2009
8:23 am
I was there IT WAS NOT A FIGHT!
Bobbie
November 1st, 2009
8:26 am
Jerry Springer episode it was truly, NOT. Only one person got out of control. Cobb (pregnant) responded to Smith verbally, but she never even balled up a fist and no one heard her curse. So, this is really a lie from the media stand point. What they are saying happened in the building did not happen.
Gringo
November 1st, 2009
8:28 am
Teachers SHOULD be held to a higher standard. Especially in this state where our education system is the pits.
A department store employee would be fired on the spot. The teachers get a hearing. Ridiculous.
The things teachers can get away with and continue to teach is amazing. And if you don’t believe me, go read the recent LA Times and NY Times articles about how those districts are handling teachers they can’t or are trying to fire.
Bobbie
November 1st, 2009
8:28 am
And Cobb and Green were engaged and everyone in the building knew that. This is a case of a cheating man who put his woman in a terrible situation.
A Realist
November 1st, 2009
8:59 am
They all (including the male teacher) should be terminated. I’m sure the school system has a no tolerance policy against fighting in school. Had the fighting ensued with students, the police, detention officers, and juvenile court proceedings would have taken place.
DAVID
November 1st, 2009
9:01 am
V…..SPEAKS the TRUTH……then denies it is TRUTH….IT IS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT TO CALL BLACKs a violent culture……..Liberals deny what they see with their own eyes.
Gwinnett Parent
November 1st, 2009
9:14 am
#1 Rule of the professional world: Never Get Your Honey Where You Make Your Money!!!!! This applies to all professions.
Only a fools break this rule. Yes, teachers should be held to a higher standard. They spend 7-8 hours a day in front of our children. Teachers are role models and have young minds to mold. If this happened in an office situation (adults only in the room), all 3 would have been fired. All large companies have office dating policies and would be surprised if Clayton County Schools did not have the same. I would not allow any adults that behaved like this to influence my child, and expect the school to exercise the the same level of judgement. However, Clayton County has always been a mess. Three years ago one of their principals was punished for making racist comments towards Hispanic students. She was demoted to teacher (wow). This is what is to be expected of Clayton County.
“You don’t want none of this.” How about the bad grammar? These ladies are supposed to have degrees in education 4yr or greater??? Where did they get their degrees? The poor grammar alone would have been enough for me to get upset. Which is worse is almost a toss up, the double negative or the curse words. We are living in an era where there are qualified teachers, which know how to behave in public looking for employment. Let’s flush out teachers like these and take a look at those that were laid off last year.
FulCo teach
November 1st, 2009
9:14 am
Citizen, Hmmm, you think the AJC is misrepresenting a police report? All I addressed is your confusion about battery (which DOES involve physical contact) and agreed that (based on the evidence of the police report alone) MOST people wouldn’t want their children in these teachers’ classes. Valid points are made that it’s not reasonable to expect that teachers should be held LESS accountable than their students for such misbehavior. Sorry, don’t think that’s “passing judgment,” just basing an opinion based on what the POLICE reported. (Not news agencies, but law enforcement.) Interviews with other teachers and students lead the police officer to file the charges. What did those women “teach” those students that morning? Hopefully, eventually, that adults will be held accountable for disorderly conduct just as students are. Maybe you should consider those facts; I’ve only read the AJC account – not scouring the news channels for more sensationalism myself.
sad brotha
November 1st, 2009
9:14 am
I’m not surprised they be sisters. What they be thinking? Acting the fool at school will get you suspended… oh but they be the teachers… I guess they’ll have to go to the principal’s office. I hope the principal is a brother, if so, he understands… it’s a trash thang.
Meme
November 1st, 2009
9:22 am
I also “I do have issues with unmarried pregnant teachers teaching impressionable young girls. “
Rick
November 1st, 2009
9:29 am
Both of the Ladies should be fired. The male involved however did nothiing wrong. It is neither illegal or immoral to date more than one woman at a time.
Rick
November 1st, 2009
9:31 am
Well he would be a two timing RAT.
again no laws broken and not involver in the fight at school.
Slim Red
November 1st, 2009
9:55 am
Down-loaders fighting over a man. Did Vick bet on this?
Shawn
November 1st, 2009
10:54 am
Really? unmarried and pregnant. How many women/men do you know that have children outside of marriage. The principal has children…no husband. So, does that make her a terrible example. At least she knows her child’s father. There are so many fatherless children around.
I guess that’s what these blogs are for, for people to pass judgement without knowledge. Ummm, that sounds like a site for a fool, let me get off of her.
And Bazooka……Negros, really? where are you from.
Bio Teacher
November 1st, 2009
11:05 am
The two teachers that fought in the school in front of the students should already be gone. The male teacher acted immaturely but did not act unprofessionally according to the story. Hence, he should not suffer for the actions of immature and unprofessional associates.
J
November 1st, 2009
11:17 am
if the media really spun this out of control, then shame on them … the AJC is full on biased writers … what ever happened to covering the story and relaying the facts?
read the vents that are posted as well, and you’ll see the racism … i’m white and i’m tired of seeing the ajc putting blacks in a negative light all the time. There needs to be unity in this country. Same for blacks, this racism needs to stop on your end as well.
Concerned for the children
November 1st, 2009
1:58 pm
Who I really feel sorry for is the children in this school district. The adults from the school board, principals, to the teacher, what kind of standards do you have?
Remorse where is it?
November 1st, 2009
2:33 pm
I think it is time all involved apologize to the students, parents and fellow teachers. This incident has ruined an entire week of school and should not have ever happened! The distress these individuals caused to everyone because of their actions should not go without punishment! They should be remorseful,and more concerned with what their actions did to the school that has worked very hard to be as good as it is in Clayton County! No one deserved this type of behavior or press!Hearing remorse from either of these ladies has not happened and that is infuriating!
yaa_di
November 1st, 2009
3:01 pm
Let’s see, I wonder how the majority of the posts in response to this topic will go . . . .
-It’s because they’re black.
-Clayton is full of black people, so it must be because they’re black.
-Only black people act that way, so it must be because they’re black.
-That’s why black children grow up to act that way–because they see black adults act that way. And they’re black.
-If black people didn’t act so black then they wouldn’t do black things in front of black students. Black.
true V you had me laughing hard…..then they usually manage to work this one in…..and black people shouldn’t have children…..and black people shouldn’t have children if they cant take care of the….and black people shouldn’t….blah blah blah blah, black people…..racist and evil.
the only person that needs to be prosecuted is smith…..she is the perpetrator. if she didn’t approach cobb, the whole there wouldn’t have been a fight.
“moral terpitude” how about the male teacher, “friending” his students on facebook, so he can browse the students pictures, also where a few of his women “fb friends” are baring their buttocks, plus whatever else objectionable pictures he has. my child would friend him (this single male 38 y.o.), and my child was ostracized him and also his “cool students.” how do we deal with teachers like this.
v for vendetta wor
-Black teachers black and were black in front of black students black and black who black with black and black black black. Because they’re black.
Does that about sum it up? Do you realize how stupid that sounds?
HamptonRoads
November 1st, 2009
6:54 pm
Incidents like this reinforce and make me glad of my decision to home-school my child. Believe me, If I could get gone from here, I’d be gone. But for now, I’ll just continue making lemonade out of lemons…
HamptonRoads
November 1st, 2009
7:16 pm
BTW: If one acts/behaves like a [insert adjective/noun here], one gets treated like one. Think about it…