HOUSTON — Cell phone video showing fights at Woodson Middle School have led a mother and a local community activist to call for change.
One video shows rough-housing inside a classroom with a kid standing on a shelf and another crouched down in a cubby.
It also shows the back of a teacher, who seems to be ignoring the chaos.
A second video shows a food fight in the cafeteria, where Tamika Thomas said her daughter got hit in the face with pizza.
"It's out of control," said Thomas, who asked her kids to record the video after they came home complaining about the atmosphere at the school.
According to Thomas, the classroom fight happened two weeks ago, and the food fight occurred on Monday.
"I was highly upset," she added. "Someone could have gotten hurt."
Now, a local community activist believes the school's principal should be removed.
"There should be a change in the administration," said Quanell X. "It's a joke to call that an academic learning environment."
Woodson's principal is brand new and the school district points out that she is focused on creating a safe and positive environment.
According to the district, out-of-school suspensions are dramatically down from 138 last year to just 23 so far this year.
HISD spokesperson Holly Huffman released the following statement about the classroom incident:
"Upon learning of the allegations on Tuesday, school officials immediately launched an investigation. The situation is currently under review. The substitute teacher seen in the video will not be asked to return."
Huffman released the following statement about the food fight:
"Two students were involved Monday in a brief, lunchtime altercation, during which a slice of pizza was thrown. The pizza struck a third student who was standing nearby but not involved in the incident. Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken per the HISD Student Code of Conduct."
