Travis Heckstall - Teacher Has Melt-Down, Threatens To Rip Student’s Eye Balls Out

Jonesboro, Georgia (The Weekly Vice) -- Travis Heckstall, a 34 year old biology teacher at Mt. Zion High School in Clayton County, Georgia has been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and making terroristic threats.

Police obtained a warrant and arrested Heckstall on Wednesday after he allegedly told a student that "he would rip his eye balls out, piss on him and kill [his] family."

Travis Heckstall is the son of State Rep. Joe Heckstall (D), who was in court with Travis during an appearance on Thursday. Joe Heckstall's website also lists a son named Travis.

Student witnesses told police that two students began "play fighting" and "horsing around" during a computer lab class. "Mr. Heckstall then became really mad and started cursing and threatening," the students told police.

The arrest affidavit went on to say Heckstall spat on the floor, grew very quiet and then apologized to the class.

According to the police report, Heckstall stated to police that the student has a history of violence and regularly taunted and threatened him. He also told police that the student had threatened him during a first period class and that he had no choice but to respond the same way.

Mr. Heckstall went on to explain that he had not felt safe through the entire school year and had tried various classroom procedures to change the student's behavior. He also believed that the student was going to carry out his threat because the school year was about to end.

Heckstall resigned his position at the end of the school year.

The Weekly Vice Opinion:

You know what? I believe this teacher. I don't agree with the way he handled the situation whatsoever, but something about Heckstall's statement rings true. I took a look at the Jonesboro demographics, which is a outgrowth of Atlanta.

The lower than average income level coupled with the percentage of kids per family sheds some light on why the crime rate among youths under the age of 18 is well above average. The number of student crimes against teachers is above average as well. A lot of parents are working two jobs while their kids are out ruling the roost, it would appear.

The man's words are very plausible, even if he made the wrong decision. I'd like to know what the school is doing to support teachers who find themselves being bullied by punk students who don't feel they have an obligation to respect a teacher's authority. The wire has been dead quiet on that aspect of this story.

No, I don't think this is a criminal issue - I think this should have been handled by the district. Terminating the man would have been more than adequate. It really seems to me however that a few other heads should be rolling at that school as well. The entire situation might have easily been prevented with a little mediation from the administrative staff. Obviously, there wasn't.

Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://weeklyvice.blogspot.com