Special ed teacher arrested for 'forcing an autistic boy to punch himself repeat

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Special ed teacher arrested for 'forcing an autistic boy to punch himself

repeatedly in the head'

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A teacher has been arrested after she forced an autistic boy to repeatedly punch

himself in the head.

Margaret Boyett is alleged to have lost her temper with the boy and had to be

restrained by a teacher's aide in her classroom before she could strike the

teen.

An arrest report reveals that the 41-year-old raised her hand in a striking

motion, but was prevented from slapping the 13-year-old boy by the classroom

assistant.

The incident took place at West Prep Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Boyett

works with mostly autistic children.

The arrest report does not reveal what caused Boyett, an experienced teacher, to

lose her self control.

Detective Mitch Maciszak said Boyett confronted the student and grabbed his

hand. She repeatedly used his hand to strike himself in the head.

'She caused him to strike himself seven to eight times about the head,' Maciszak

said.

'She attempted to essentially slap him, but was stopped.'

The arrest report reveals that the teacher's aide shouted at Boyett to restrain

herself but had to intervene when the angry teacher raised an open hand as if to

strike the teen.

When Boyett calmed down she made the boy apologise to her. The teenager was not

injured in the incident.

Staff at the school heard about the incident the following day and police were

called.

Police spoke with the boy, but because of his disability, he was unable 'to

comprehend the event and form a cognitive statement,' according to the report.

Roddy, a spokesman for the school district, said Boyett has been assigned

home duty.

'She's not in the classroom,' Roddy said. 'She's not allowed in the school.

Boyett, who joined West Prep almost two years ago, was charged with child abuse

and coercion. She was released on $6000 bail.

Concerned parents have flooded the school with questions since Boyett's arrest

was reported on the local news.

Principal Mike Barton said: 'They are having some parental concerns, and again,

we are addressing those on an individuals basis -- meeting with parents if

necessary and talking with them on the phone. But I think it is important to

hear parents if thy have concerns.

'We want to set their minds at ease and assure them that this a safe environment

here at the school,' he added.