A brawl at a New South Wales school has ended with a teacher charged with allegedly assaulting a student.
NSW Police said the male teacher, 62, was arrested last night after an incident at Maitland Grossmann High School in the Hunter Valley yesterday afternoon.
Video footage filmed by a student appears to show the teacher and students hurling paper at each other before a school desk appears to be thrown at the older man.
He can also allegedly be seen grabbing a student by his shirt collar.
The footage includes yelling and screaming as the school bell rings to signal the end of the class:
"Phones down, that's enough," the teacher can be heard as students filmed.
A teenage boy was assessed at the scene by paramedics, but was not physically injured.
The teacher has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Maitland Local Court on April 6.
The Department of Education said in a statement it was aware of the incident and was working with police, but would not comment further as it was before the courts.
Safe learning
In its annual report, the school said it was committed to creating a safe learning space for students.
"Maitland Grossmann High School seeks to provide a safe, challenging, and friendly environment in which each student is encouraged to achieve personal excellence and self-reliance," the report said.
"We support all students to achieve their personal best whilst consistently demonstrating concern for others, allowing each individual to emerge as a confident and responsible citizen."
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell will not comment on the incident, nor will the NSW Teachers Federation.
The Maitland Grossmann High P&C has told the ABC appropriate support is being provided as required.
The ABC has also sought comment from NSW opposition education spokeswoman Prue Car.
The ABC has chosen not to show vision of the incident.
Commentary on social media is divided and a petition offering support to the teacher is circulating online.
The petition claims vision allegedly filmed by students is taken out of context.
