Teacher's Desk-Throwing Meltdown Caught on Tape

A 17-year teaching veteran finally had enough, and his subsequent meltdown was caught on video. Donald Wood was teaching his 11th grade algebra class at Nashville’s McGavock High School when he decided a group of laughing students needed to “shut up.” They didn’t, and Wood started waving his arms and talking about his “absolute power” before throwing tables, a garbage can, and a chair around the room. In the above video, he also claims to have started a fire at the school.

Students initially thought Wood was joking before realizing the situation was serious and leaving the classroom, NewsChannel5 reports. One witness says the chair Wood threw—“not at a student, but towards a student”—broke a window. School resource officers handcuffed Wood and escorted him from the school as he shouted profanities at officers and students. Officials say the teacher, who was placed on administrative leave, suffered a nervous breakdown and was taken to a hospital.
(More nervous breakdowns stories.)