BOSTON

Student Threw Boiling Ramen Water on Teacher, Badly Burning Her After Dispute

The school's principal allegedly failed to call 911 on behalf of the teacher

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A 14-year-old student at a school in Boston is accused of throwing boiling hot water on one of his teachers earlier this month.

The incident, which occurred at McKinley Middle School on St. Mary's Street in Allston on May 5, resulted in the teacher bringing herself to the hospital, according to a Boston police report, after the school's principal failed to call 911 on her behalf.

The teacher had told her student not to use a textbook to assist in microwaving ramen noodles, as the book would be ruined in the microwave, police said. Following a disagreement, the student allegedly proceeded to stand up from his seat and pour his cup of boiling hot ramen noodles on the teacher.

The student had used the hot water side of a bubbler rather than a microwave to initially heat his noodles, the police report states.

The teacher, who arrived at the hospital in "excruciating pain," she said, had swelling and minor burns on her left cheek and redness inside of her left ear when she arrived at the hospital, per the report.

The school nurse advised the teacher to seek medical attention, which the teacher did. When she filed the report she told police she would follow-up with her regular doctor and refused EMS treatment.

She said when she told the principal what happened the principal said she would call 911. The principal never called 911.

The student, who is being charged as a juvenile, has been charged with aggravated assault.

Five days after the incident, the teacher said she was still experiencing stinging in her neck, face, left ear and left eye.

On Friday, Mayor Michelle Wu said the city is looking into what happened and if all safety protocols were met.

"It is unacceptable for any of our students or educators to feel like they are worried or stressed about anything but coming to school and taking care of our young people," Wu said.

A Boston Public Schools representative said in a statement to NBC10 Boston and NECN that the incident was "unfortunate" and that "actions were taken to ensure the safety of the staff member involved and appropriate interventions have occurred."

Both Boston police and the BPS Safety Services have a report of the incident, and it is being reviewed by the appropriate BPS staff, the district representative said.

"Our protocol when such incidents occur is to put in place a safety plan for everyone involved, which is currently underway."

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