The striking incident occurred on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in a classroom at South Lenoir High School.
In the unsurfaced video, Patricia Graham can be seen hitting a student at least a few times with a coiled extension cord.
However, the student keeps his left arm in a defensive position. After punching the student, she says: “sit down now.”
A student from south Lenior, Eli Day, said: “And I heard one of them was sleeping and that’s why they got hit with the extension agreement because they were sleeping.”
However, the school system assessed all conditions, and “The police have been informed and the school has also communicated with the parents of the students involved.”
South Lenoir High School teacher Graham, 71, is charged with simple assault. Officers said two students, ages 16 and 17, were detained by the teacher.
Sheriff Jackie Rogers said the video deeply disturbed him, and he is proud of his sheriff’s office staff, who responded immediately. Jackie Rogers praised them for their investigation that resulted in her arrest.
South Lenior High School parent Shannon Taylor saw the video and said: “I would have slapped her. I would have swung her tail over my pup. I would have gone to jail for assault. Any parent would do that.”
Lenior County Schools said Graham resigned. The 71-year-old was a teacher from 1976 to 2013, when she retired and returned as a part-time teacher in 2014, according to the school system.
The police officers said they were in the process of formally arresting her that afternoon.
