An Indianapolis elementary school teacher was accused of organizing a “fight club-style” punishment between classmates, including a special needs student, in disturbing footage that surfaced. The child’s mother filed a lawsuit against George Washington Carver School and the teacher, Julious Johnican, alleging that he allowed students to engage in physical altercations in the classroom. The mother had raised concerns about the discipline in her son’s classroom at the beginning of the school year, but these were ignored by school administrators for several months. The allegations came to light when Johnican mistakenly showed footage of her son being attacked during a parent-teacher conference, prompting the mother to take legal action.
In the video, a classmate is seen repeatedly hitting the mother’s son while being encouraged by the teacher. The teacher’s comments throughout the video indicated that he was aware of the altercation and even approved of the violence. The lawsuit alleged that Johnican not only encouraged the fighting but also actively participated by holding her son down during attacks. The mother claimed that her son’s distressing experiences in the classroom were ignored by school administrators, as they dismissed his claims and accused him of lying or being mentally ill.
The investigation found that there was sufficient evidence to support the boy’s claims and that Johnican had engaged in behaviors that jeopardized the well-being of the students. Johnican resigned from the school following the release of the video. The mother had previously attempted to address the mistreatment her son faced in the classroom by communicating with Johnican and school officials, but her concerns were dismissed. The lawsuit also revealed disturbing comments made by a substitute teacher who allegedly condoned the attacks and made discriminatory remarks about special needs students.
The lawsuit against the teacher and the school included multiple charges such as disability discrimination, intentional infliction of serious emotional distress, and negligent care and supervision. The Indianapolis Public Schools responded to the allegations by stating that they do not tolerate such behavior and take reports of potential abuse seriously. The Department of Child Services was immediately notified when the teacher’s conduct was discovered, and the teacher was removed from the classroom and suspended. The school district emphasized that the safety and well-being of students are a top priority.
The mother’s lawsuit highlighted the emotional distress and trauma her son experienced as a result of the mistreatment he faced in the classroom. Despite her efforts to address the issue with the school, her concerns were continuously dismissed, and her son was portrayed as disruptive and disordered. The teacher’s actions and the school’s negligence in addressing the situation led to further harm to the special needs student and other classmates who were involved in the “fight club-style” discipline. The lawsuit sought justice for the victims and accountability for the individuals and entities responsible for failing to protect the students under their care.
