Middle school students get probation for throwing bananas at allergic teacher

(Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA)

An Ohio school district says students endangered a teacher by intentionally exposing her to bananas despite knowing she is severely allergic to the fruit.

WSYX-TV reports the teacher at the Starling K-8 school in Columbus went into anaphylactic shock and ended up at the hospital after three seventh-graders smeared bananas on her door and threw the fruit at her in class last November. A sign on the door had warned students that the room was supposed to be a "banana-free zone."

The station reports the students were charged with assault in juvenile court and have since served probation.

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Columbus City Schools spokesman Scott Wortman says the district hopes it was a "teachable moment" for the students involved and others about "the potentially life-threatening consequences of food allergies."