Texas Middle School Students Got Second-Degree Burns Doing Bear Crawls on Hot Track, Parents Say: 'Just Straight Torture'
Several students suffered burns, with some receiving treatment at Shriners Burn Hospital in Galveston, Texas
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Woodville Police Department and Woodville Independent School District are investigating the incidentSeveral sixth-grade boys were injured during a pre-athletics class at Woodville Middle School in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, May 19, per 12 News Now, CBS Austin and KTRE.
The boys claim that their coach said they could either take part in a TikTok challenge that involved bear crawling on the hot track or do their usual workout. The boys chose the challenge on the track with a temperature of 140 degrees, which is above the level that can cause 2nd degree burns, CBS Austin reports.
Several of the students suffered burns and were treated at emergency centers and a local hospital. Other students' burns were so severe that they needed to be treated at Shriners Burn Hospital in Galveston, Texas. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is investigating the incident.
One parent, Cassie George, told CBS Austin that her two sons were injured and treated at Shriners. One boy had first-degree burns and the other suffered second-degree burns.
"He got off the bus and we looked at it, and it was not cuts and bruises, it was straight up burns," the mother told the outlet. "We were furious about the whole situation, the whole matter. It shouldn't have been done. All these kids that suffered. It should have never happened like that. Like they said, they're supposed to keep kids safe. That is just straight torture that they did to the kids."
She said her sons claimed that the coach said the boy had 'soft hands' and needed to 'toughen them up.' The boy also alleged that the coach mocked the young students if they couldn't complete the challenge.
The coach previously resigned before this incident, and the last day of school was already going to be his last day as an employee. But the Woodville Independent School District (ISD) confirmed after the Monday, May 19, incident, he was instructed not to return to campus.
"Due to a similar incident in 2019 at one of the Woodville schools, prior to my arrival and not related to a TikTok challenge, we put out guidance on not doing bear crawls on the track. This is not appropriate and will not be tolerated,' Lisa F. Meysembourg, Woodville ISD superintendent, told KFDM. 'Myself, along with district and campus leadership, have called all of the families. We've told them we're sorry. We regret their children had to suffer through this."
'We are equally as concerned with the reports as the community and are taking the matter seriously, as our students' well-being and safety is a top priority,' read the official Woodville ISD statement.
'The Superintendent and Campus Principal have launched a full internal review and are cooperating with local law enforcement,' the statement continued. 'While federal privacy laws (FERPA) limit what we can share, we want to be clear: the employee actions described by the media do not reflect the values or expectations of Woodville ISD.'
Woodville Police Department (WPD) is investigating the incident, Chief Mike McCulley told CBS Austin.
"It's a complete disregard for common sense," McCulley told the outlet KFDM.
"Twelve to 14 parents have raised complaints. These are burns. We'll try to determine the average temperature of the track. We're gathering facts, medical information, taking statements.'
'We understand one coach objected to what was happening. We'd like to talk with both coaches. The information is coming in fast,' he continued, before confirming WPD will meet with District Attorney Lucas Babin. 'He would decide whether to take it to a grand jury for possible criminal charges."
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Representatives for Woodville ISD, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Woodville Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Thursday.
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