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A Florida art teacher was removed from his high school after he offered to fight a US-born student who wouldn’t stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Robert Reiber, 61, was filmed telling the Hispanic teenager at Manatee High School to go back to where he came from – in a clip which has amassed over one million views online.
The unidentified student sat awkwardly in his chair while the teacher berated him for not being upstanding during the pledge and asking if he was from ‘Mexico or Guatemala.’
Reiber was removed from the school and was barred from having any contact with students amid the ongoing investigation into his conduct.
He was recorded saying: ‘You are going to sit there on your butt?’ while other sniggering students held in their laughter as the teacher raised his voice at the disobeying teen.
Robert Reiber, 61, was filmed telling the student at Manatee High School to go back to where he came from in the clip – which has amassed over one million views online
Reiber was recorded threatening: ‘If you want to do something, get up and do it’
As the teenager started to fidget in the silence, the teacher yaps: ‘Don’t shake your leg.’
The art teacher then was recorded saying: ‘If you want to do something, get up and do it. I will defend my country until the very end.’
But the student murmurs ‘I won’t hurt you.’
Mr Reiber, who was named as the teacher involved by students familiar to the incident, according to the Herald-Tribune, then gawks: ‘Then go back to your…where are you from? Mexico or Guatemala?’
‘I was born here,’ the student said.
The fuming teacher rebukes: ‘You were born here, and you won’t stand up for the flag?’ before the video cuts off.
According to Manatee County School District, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited at the beginning of each school day and all students have to stand at attention.
When the pledge is recited, students need to stand with their right hand over their heart.
The art teacher raised his hands in anger as he berated the teenager for not being upstanding during the pledge
Other sniggering students held in their laughter as the teacher raised his voice at the disobeying teen
The only exception is if a student has written permission from a parent or guardian to be excused from reciting the pledge.
Responding to the video, the school district said in a statement: ‘The teacher shown in the video confronting a student in a Manatee district classroom was removed from the school the day the incident occurred.
‘The teacher no longer has contact with any students.
‘In addition, the school district’s Office of Professional Standards is thoroughly investigating the incident in accordance with district and state due process policies and procedures.
‘The School District of Manatee County strongly condemns any language or behavior that degrades, humiliates or insults any individuals – most especially the young people, families, and community we have the privilege of serving.’