A schoolboy was stabbed in the back of the hand after a teacher allegedly asked her class to give another boy a Chinese burn.
Drama teacher Katie Berker is facing disciplinary charges relating to the alleged incident at Mackie Academy, Stonehaven, has been called before the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
The 53-year-old – who once appeared on Stars in Their Eyes alongside Matthew Kelly – appeared by video link at the hearing.
It is alleged that she became so exasperated with one of her pupils that she asked the others in the class “would someone give that boy a Chinese burn?”
The hearing heard that one of the youngsters administered the punishment, the victim responded by plunging a pencil into the back of his hand, drawing blood.
Ms Berker admits that on January 14 last year she told a pupil to give another child a Chinese burn, but insists it was not a serious instruction.
She also admitted swearing at the boy who received the burn. However, she denies her fitness to teach is impaired.
Deputy head teacher Craig Sim gave evidence to the hearing of the statements he took from students following the incident, including the boy stabbed with the pencil.
He told the hearing the boy had said: “She told me to give him a Chinese burn. He stabbed with with a pencil and I started bleeding.”
Ms Berker, who has been a drama teacher at Mackie Academy for more than 20 years, told the hearing the reference to a Chinese burn was a “pure throwaway remark” and in hindsight it was “ill-advised”.
She added: “I should’ve said, ‘Would someone explain to him why his behaviour is inappropriate.
“It was a throwaway remark that was made in jest. I was not trying to invoke or promote violence.”
The hearing continues.
