Manteo Middle student seriously hurt in after-school incident, principal says

MANTEO, N.C. (WAVY) — A student at Manteo Middle was seriously hurt this week after another student used a sweatshirt to sweep their legs out from behind.

Manteo Middle Principal Tami Harper says she couldn’t provide specific details about the students involved or the details of the incident, but said it happened at an after-school sporting event, and the tactic to take out a person’s legs with a sweatshirt came from TikTok.

“While we encourage student participation in after school events, play and social interaction, students are often unattended and it’s essential that all students feel safe and respected,” Harper said.

Harper said her team is “actively addressing this issue” at the school, and she asked parents for support to prevent future incidents.

Please talk to your child about the importance of kindness, respect, and safe play,” Harper said. “It needs to be clear that these kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will result in serious consequences. If you notice any concerning behavior or if your child has experienced or witnessed aggressive horseplay, please encourage them to speak to a teacher or staff member.”

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