COLUMBIA, S.C. - An attack on a North Charleston High School teacher last month prompted Lowcountry lawmakers to craft a bill that would make it a felony to assault school workers.

Also under the measure, sponsored by Sen. John Kuhn, R-Charleston, teachers would have the right to bring criminal charges against students - a power currently restricted to a school's administration.

"I want to send a message to teachers that we back them up and a very loud message to students that criminal activity will not be tolerated," Kuhn said Thursday.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Sens. Arthur Ravenel, R-Mount Pleasant, Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, and Bill Branton, R-Summerville, would make it a felony to assault any school worker on school grounds or at a school-sanctioned event. Such an attack generally would be considered a misdemeanor now.

Kuhn said he wants it spelled out in the law that teachers could sue students.

In February, a 16-year-old student was given one year of probation and 25 hours of community service after pleading guilty to assault and battery after the boy attacked a social studies teacher.

Clare Heinsohn, a senior analyst for the Senate Education Committee and former teacher in North Charleston, said educators in Charleston are upset and outraged by the attack.

"I think the No. 1 tenet in a school is that every child should feel safe, and certainly the teachers should feel safe, too," Heinsohn said.

Kuhn will hold a public hearing on the bill and the incident at the new Judicial Center in Charleston on March 27.

Information from: The Post And Courier