A TEACHER is under investigation after students reportedly filmed a video of themselves stapling a screaming cat’s open wound in class.
Emily Marie Benner, an agriculture teacher, was arrested after her bizarre alleged lesson struck a nerve with the community.
High school teacher Emily Marie Brenner is smiling in her mugshot after being arrested for animal crueltyCBS 19
During class, Brenner instructed students to hold down a live cat and staple an incision in his stomachCBS 19
The cat was visibly resisting and crying during the ordealCBS 19
Benner, who was seen smiling in her mugshot, was booked into an East Texas jail on Sunday and was released later that day on a $7,500 bond.
In footage obtained by KYTX-TV, Benner was seen instructing students to grab the cat and lay it down on a table.
Despite the cat being awake, crying, and resisting, the students -under Benner’s guidance – held the animal down and turned it on its back.
The cat can be heard screaming as students proceed to staple an incision on the cat’s body, following Benner’s instructions to do so.
The video concludes with cheers from the students in the classroom after the procedure.
It is unclear what the lesson was supposed to be for the students.
According to the school district’s website, Benner serves as the agriculture animal teacher for Westwood ISD in Palestine, Texas.
It has been confirmed that the cat survived and is currently under the care of a local veterinarian.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
Benner, who received her Texas Educator Certificate in 2022, is certified to teach agriculture, food, and natural resources for grades six through 12.
Her certification is currently valid until 2027.
However, after this latest incident, there may be a possibility that Brenner’s license could be revoked.
THE SCHOOL RESPONDS
Westwood ISD Superintendent, Wade Stanford, issued a letter to parents, students, and the community, acknowledging the “deeply troubling incident” during the class.
The letter did not mention Benner by name.
However, Stanford emphasized that the behavior witnessed in the incident amounted to nothing more than animal cruelty.
“This behavior is not in line with the values and standards we uphold within our district,” Stanford said.
“We are committed to taking immediate and decisive action to address this issue,” he continued.
Westwood ISD’s public relations coordinator, Britni Calzada, declined to comment, noting that the incident is an ongoing investigation being handled by the proper authorities.
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