A tenured Louisiana music teacher has been charged with child abuse and simple assault after allegedly putting Band-Aids on the mouths of seven students. US Weekly Already learned.
Pearl River police argued George Serban They allegedly put Band-Aids on students’ mouths because they kept talking in class.
Serban, 38, is a tenured music teacher at Pearl Riverside Elementary School.
Serban was arrested on Tuesday, March 17, after the seven students told their parents that they had Band-Aids on their mouths as punishment for speaking in class on Monday, March 16, according to police.
According to police, the students were between 8 and 10 years old.
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According to investigators, the Band-Aid was placed on their lips against their will.
“Officers interviewed the children and found that the children were scared and very frightened,” police said in a statement.
“Pearl River Police have been in contact with the St. Tammany Parish School Board and are working together to resolve this incident as quickly as possible,” the release said.
The children’s parents were informed of the allegations and insist he faces criminal charges.
Serban turned himself in to authorities after learning there was a warrant for his arrest. He was processed at the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center and released Wednesday, March 18, on a $15,000 bond.
his lawyer, Robert TollA statement was sent to WDSU saying the bandage was just part of his class that day.
“He was teaching his students the musical concepts of development Emile Jacques-Dalcroze“, the statement reads. “You can google and learn more about Dalroze eurythmics technology, but suffice it to say that the purpose of a Band-Aid is to cover a certain feeling in order to better understand the tone. “
Tol added that giving kids a Band-Aid is not meant to be a punishment. In fact, “I’ve also known kids who were playing like third graders, using Band-Aids as fake mustaches.”
It was unclear if he entered a plea at any point.
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us Attempts to contact Serbia by phone, email and social media did not receive a reply.
The case will now be turned over to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney, police said.
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools officials were unavailable for comment Thursday, March 19, and the prosecutor’s office did not return a call seeking comment.
Information on Serban’s employment status was not available at press time.
