As a boy, Matthew Monford is no stranger to the strange fragments around his parents' ears.
At school, he recalled, when his behavior deviated, a sheet of glue was thrown at him.
"But that's a different era," said the 38-year-old. year-
Old teacher before
"Anyone over the age of 30 may have experienced the same experience.
However, he paid a huge price, and Matthew learned how much attitude has changed.
Last fall, he gave a disruptive 13-year-
The old pupil on the back of the head.
This led to allegations of assault, criminal record and tattered career.
This is a case that shocked the local community of north employees where the school is located.
It cannot be named because of a court order protecting the identity of the child.
More than 400 people have since signed a petition in support of Matthew.
Ben Wally, a 23-year-old former student who launched the petition, said: "It sounds stupid.
Now you just have to flick someone's ear and it's classified as an attack.
Matthew is excited about support.
He said: "I have received a lot of recognition from former students.
"Their comments say a lot about what kind of teacher I am.
"It is surprising that the school did not deal with the case.
Even his lawyer told the judge at the Justice Center in North Stafford County that he was facing trial there: "This will not appear in court when we are at school.
Now, Matthew, who teaches design and technology, believes that the monitoring system in the school can save his reputation.
He said: "When this happened, the idea of teachers wearing body cameras appeared on the news, and I just thought, 'This will be amazing '.
Maybe I will still be charged with an attack, but at least that will prove what I have done.
Matthew also believes that CCTV cameras in the classroom can protect students and teachers.
He said: "There is CCTV in the corridor of my school.
I could have taught it happily in the classroom.
It guarantees everyone.
"Teaching is more than just a job for Matthew.
For several years, he has also managed the school's Duke of Edinburgh Award program, often taking students to explore on weekends at his own time without extra pay.
"I like teaching," said Matthew.
This is very worth it.
It's great to do things with the kids and see that they are proud of their work.
But because of the incident in last October, Matthew was fired and withdrew from the industry.
He said: "There is a criminal record now. who will hire me?
The charge that he pleaded guilty is
Assault-
It reminds people of an annoying image.
However, his lawyer said in court: "The boy was not injured.
He was in class the rest of the day.
On that defining day, Matthew asked his class to focus on written work in silence.
But there was a boy who insisted on chatting.
Matthew of Sandbach, Cheshire, said: "The boy bowed his head and wrote. I just popped the back of his head and said, 'Go on. ’ That was it.
But this is not the case.
That night, Matthew received a phone call from the school at home telling him that the boy's father had formally complained.
The next day, he was taken out of the classroom and asked for "gardening leave", which surprised him.
"I was very upset," said Matthew.
I have been in school all my career and have never had such a problem.
"Within two weeks, the matter was handed over to an officer designated by the local authorities who dealt with allegations of injuries to people working with children.
It has been decided that the case should be handled internally by the school.
Matthew's partner, who also works at school, said: "But it is clear that the father is not happy.
"I was told that he went to the police and refused to leave before investigating the matter.
Then, I heard that the father was dissatisfied with the school before.
On December, Matthew was interviewed by the police and was told that his father claimed that the boy was in tears because of the incident.
Matthew insisted: "If a child is crying in my state in my class, I will go and ask what is wrong.
I never saw him cry.
"Of the 27 students in the class, only another parent allowed their children to be interviewed as witnesses.
Matthew said: "Unfortunately, the person who stood up was on the same table, confirming the story.
"He said, the power I drew pushed his head to the table.
In the months after the incident, Matthew was supported by the National Union of Teachers, and while waiting to hear about his fate, the school was still paying wages.
On March 21, he pleaded guilty to assault at the North Stafford County Judicial Center.
He said: "If you get caught 33 miles/hour in a 30 mile/hour range, you can't say you didn't do that.
You know the rules.
His lawyer asked for conditional termination but was refused.
The magistrate acknowledged that Matthew had a "exemplary record" but cited "a breach of trust in the teacher-student relationship ".
He was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and has now been completed and has been told to pay a legal fee of £ 220.
Two days later, Matthew was fired for being found guilty.
Although the government's National School of Teaching and Leadership did not prohibit him from teaching, he did not want to come back.
He said: "I was asked to work later, but I didn't want to go back.
He thinks a big problem is highlighted in his case.
Matthew said: "Our policy at school is not connected and it seems to me to be a bit unreliable.
If you walk along the corridor, you run into students, and that's "attack ".
"A few of my teachers and friends saw what I was going through.
They are on guard now.
Matthew is now looking forward to doing business in tree surgery, property maintenance and landscaping.
"I don't suffer," he said.
I made a mistake.
I don't take revenge.