According to authorities from Salem, Samuel Dufner, a science teacher at the South Salem High School was arrested and will not be charged for using a Tesla coil to brand phrases and images into his students’ arms. It is claimed that Samuel Dufner has been marking the skin of his students in the name of science for years.
Samuel Dufner, a South Salem High School teacher, has been arrested after angry parents complained to Oregon authorities about him branding students. According to Salem Police Lt. Steve Birr, Dufner was arrested on Thursday, but no criminal charges have been filed against him at the moment.
The 37-year-old science teacher was released from jail after posting $2,000 bail and has refused to comment on his actions. Students claimed that the educator was experimenting with a Tesla coil, which can be described as follows:
“A Tesla coil an electrical resonant transformer circuit invented by Nikola Tesla around 1891. It is used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current electricity. Tesla experimented with a number of different configurations consisting of two, or sometimes three, coupled resonant electric circuits.”
At the end of the class, he revealed to his students that the coil could be used to mark the skin and asked if there were any volunteers. Those, who accepted, had the sentence “I love mom” and a heart burned into their arms.
Aminna Ackridge, a student, who took part in the experiment, said:
“He took like the probe and he touched my hand and I pulled my hand away and it was done.It hurt me a little bit, but as soon as I pulled my hand away the pain was gone.”
Another student by the name of Katy Broadwater told local media that Samuel Dufner has been burning teens for a long time. She shared:
“Apparently he’s been doing this for a long time. My brother, about six years ago, had burn marks on him from when he did the experiment back then.”
As police investigate the matter, the Salem-Keizer School District placed Dufner on leave. Eilish McDarby, whose child attends South Salem High School, has a reasonable solution, have parents of students taking Dufner’s science class sign a release form. The concerned mother said:
“I’d imagine all the parents have signed release forms for their kids in science classes. I had a 9th-grader in science class and I think the teachers do their best, and I’m sure the police will investigate and come up with a good resolution.”
What are your thoughts on Salem’s Samuel Dufner’s actions?
