Attack on Larkin teacher unprovoked, authorities say

A 51-year-old science teacher attacked by a student before a class Wednesday at Larkin High School in Elgin is recovering at home with facial contusions and injuries around his eyes, Elgin Area School District U-46 officials and Elgin police said Thursday.

U-46 Public Safety Coordinator John Heiderscheidt said the unprovoked attack happened about 11 a.m. Wednesday in a classroom during a passing period. Heiderscheidt described the attack as “senseless.”

“There was just an exchange of greetings,” Heiderscheidt said. “They were the only words we have statements about. There was no argument or anything like that.”

Elgin Police Cmdr. Glenn Theriault said the 15-year-old boy slammed the teacher to the floor of the classroom before punching him four or five times. Officials said three or four other students in the classroom at the same time tried to stop the attack and assisted the injured teacher until a school resource officer arrived.

The teen was arrested at the school and charged with felony aggravated battery to a school official, a Class 3 felony. Theriault said the teen was charged as a juvenile and a hearing at the Kane County Juvenile Detention Center was scheduled for Thursday morning.

The teacher, who was not identified, was taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin where he was treated and released with nonlife threatening injuries, Theriault said.

Heiderscheidt would not discuss any previous disciplinary action against the student and said the district would follow the student handbook and school board policy to discipline the student. According to the Larkin High School Student Handbook, consequences for attacking a teacher can range from a loss of privileges like parking or computer access, to expulsion for the most severe cases.