School discipline bill now law

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) - Some Indiana educators are celebrating a new state law they say gives Indiana teachers more legal protections when they try to maintain discipline in schools.

Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the bill into law Monday as supporters looked on.

The measure was the only plank of Daniels' legislative agenda that passed during the regular legislative session that ended April 29.

Some educators have told lawmakers that parents of disruptive students often threaten to sue when teachers try to keep them from acting up or otherwise disrupting school activities.

Teacher Angie Morgan, who attended today's bill-signing, recalled that a student once put her in a choke hold.

She said that rather than end the situation on her own she waited for another adult to remove the student because she was afraid of hurting the child and being sued.