Its a good chance he just hasn't squabbed ever in his life,or not in a long time,that muscle memory was lagging
Just because you demand respect doesn't mean you are some og or street nikka. He just got sick of this kid being disrespectful,had to teach Cruz a lesson
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But the teacher handled it wrong,not to say that he is wrong. Cruz called Coach Carter a "uppity negro" while the rest of the kids laughed,he didn't lose his cool he just pullled the kids card and made him react,which is what this teacher should have done. I would have made him look like the young idiot he is compared to me,which would have either made him look like a clown to the class,a p*ssy,or would have forced him to swing first and THEN he gets mollywhopped.
I'm all for using the teaching tools on kids who ask for it to a certain degree,but you can't be reactionary and emotional. You break them emotionally and then build them back up,after the verbal and physical ass whuppings.