Teacher forces pupil to eat from trash?

Bridgeport (WTNH) - Officials in the Bridgeport School System are speaking out after a teacher was arrested for allegedly forcing a student to eat his lunch from a garbage can.

The Superintendent of Bridgeport schools addressed the issue today before cameras.

Superintendent John Ramos said the incident was reported last Thursday at Park City Magnet School. The teacher, 67-year old Anne O'Donnell, of Fairfield, was concerned her kindergarten student did not eat lunch. So, she took steps to try to make sure the student had something to eat.

The Department of Children and Families was informed and chose not to take the case feeling there was no abuse of the child. Ramos repeated the facts of what happened last week.

"The teacher went into the garbage can and took the banana out of the garbage can and then asked, or requested, the student to eat the banana," said Ramos. "That's the extent of this; that's not to make light of it, but I think the story is taking on other ramifications."

The parent of the child requested that her child be transferred out of O'Donnell's class and that request has been granted.

O'Donnell was charged with risk of injury to a minor. The internal investigation is still ongoing at the school.