Pgh.-Area School Districts Combat TikTok Teacher Slap Challenge

Pittsburgh PA

04 October, 2021

10:34 AM

Description

PITTSBURGH, PA — Several southwestern Pennsylvania school districts are advising students not to participate in an online challenge that could get them arrested: Sometime during the month of October, go up to a teacher and slap them. The "Slap a Teacher " challenge is circulating on TikTok as part of the "Devious Licks" campaign of participating in inappropriate school activities. The first in September was a challenge to vandalize school restrooms; future monthly challenges, according to an online list, encourage students to expose themselves, jab a female body part, vandalize school signs and make a mess in school cafeterias. The latest challenge resulted in a teacher in South Carolina being slapped in the back of the head on Friday, WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina, reported. Pittsburgh Public Schools interim Superintendent Wayne Walters sent a letter to district families Sunday sternly warning that engagement in any TikTok challenges won't be tolerated. "i am displeased that social media would attempt to negatively influence our students in these ways," Walters wrote. "I am requesting that you talk with your children to reinforce that this behavior is totally unacceptable and that appropriate discipline per the district's student code of conduct will be applied to anyone who chooses to engage in these senseless activities." With approximately 25,000 students, Pittsburgh Public Schools is the largest district in southwestern Pennsylvania and the second-largest in the state. In the Steel Valley School District, which serves Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall, Superintendent Edward Wehrer wrote to families in that district that he was appalled that social media would attempt to influence students in such ways. "Anybody who strikes a staff member will faces severe school discipline and the charge of aggravated assault," Wehrer stated in his letter. "We must address this TikTok challenge as a clear choice between right and wrong." Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.