Teacher Arrested for Putting Band-Aids on Students' Mouths During Music Lesson

Attorney claims the teacher was using an educational technique, but officials say the incident scared the children.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:08am

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George Serban, a 38-year-old music teacher at Riverside Elementary School in Pearl River, Louisiana, was arrested and accused of putting Band-Aids on students' mouths during a music lesson. Serban's attorney claims he was using the Dalcroze Eurhythmics technique, a musical method that encourages students to engage their whole bodies. However, Pearl River police say the Band-Aids were applied without consent and scared the children.

Why it matters

This incident has raised concerns about the appropriate use of teaching methods in the classroom, especially when it comes to physical contact with students. The case will likely come down to the testimony of the young witnesses and whether the teacher's actions were part of a legitimate educational exercise or constituted inappropriate behavior.

The details

Serban, a music teacher at Riverside Elementary School, turned himself in to police on Tuesday and was booked for simple battery and cruelty to juveniles. His attorney claims he was using the Dalcroze Eurhythmics technique, which encourages students to engage their whole bodies to grasp musical concepts. However, Pearl River police say the Band-Aids were applied without consent and scared the children.

  • Serban turned himself in to police on Tuesday, March 19, 2026.

The players

George Serban

A 38-year-old music teacher at Riverside Elementary School in Pearl River, Louisiana, who was arrested and accused of putting Band-Aids on students' mouths during a music lesson.

Dane Ciolino

A Loyola law professor who called the investigation into Serban's actions 'quite an unusual arrest.'

St. Tammany Parish Public School System

The school district that oversees Riverside Elementary School, which stated that the 'safety and security of our students is our top priority.'

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What they’re saying

“This is quite an unusual arrest.”

— Dane Ciolino, Loyola law professor

What’s next

The investigation has been handed over to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney, who will determine whether to pursue charges against Serban.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of teachers using appropriate and consented-to methods when working with young students, even in the context of educational exercises. The testimony of the student witnesses will be crucial in determining whether Serban's actions were part of a legitimate teaching technique or constituted inappropriate behavior.