Greenwood, OH – August 29, 2025 — A routine science lesson at Greenwood Elementary took a frightening turn this week after a box of live spiders was accidentally dropped onto a student during a classroom demonstration. The incident has left the child traumatized and has sparked concern among parents about safety protocols in school science activities.
According to witnesses, the event occurred during a third-grade science class led by longtime teacher Mrs. Helen Keller. The lesson, intended to introduce students to various arthropods, involved the supervised observation of several live insects and arachnids in transparent plastic containers. The specimens, supplied by a local educational outreach program, were considered safe for classroom use and included crickets, beetles, butterflies — and a collection of harmless domestic spiders.
However, what began as an exciting hands-on learning experience quickly turned into a distressing ordeal.
While preparing to show the spiders to the class, Mrs. Keller reportedly lost her grip on the container, which then fell from the cart she was pushing. The lid came loose upon impact, causing several spiders to spill out directly onto the desk — and lap — of 9-year-old Leo Martin.
Students say Leo froze for a moment before letting out a scream that echoed down the hallway. Several of the spiders had crawled up his arms, across his chest, and even onto his face before Mrs. Keller and a teaching assistant were able to remove them.
“He was absolutely terrified,” said classmate Ava Ramirez. “He didn’t even move at first. Then he started shaking and crying. It was really scary.”
Leo’s parents, Mark and Dana Martin, say their son has not been the same since the incident.
“He’s having nightmares, refuses to go back to school, and panics even if he sees a drawing of a spider,” said Mrs. Martin. “We’ve been told by a child psychologist that he’s showing signs of developing a specific phobia — arachnophobia — as a direct result of the experience.”
The school has issued a formal apology to the family and launched an internal review of its science curriculum and safety measures. Principal Thomas Greene called the incident “deeply unfortunate” and promised that changes would be made.
“We understand the seriousness of what happened, and we’re taking steps to ensure something like this never occurs again,” Greene said in a statement. “Live animals will no longer be used in elementary classrooms without extensive safety protocols and parental consent.”
The educational program that provided the live specimens, BugSmart Learning, defended its practices but expressed regret over the accident.
“All of our animals are non-venomous, and our containers are designed to be secure during normal handling,” said director Sheryl Ling. “However, we recognize that accidents can happen, and we are reviewing our packaging and instructions to minimize risk in the future.”
Experts say that while arachnophobia is common, it usually develops over time due to repeated exposure or childhood trauma.
“An intense experience like this — where a child feels trapped or overwhelmed — can trigger a lasting fear,” explained Dr. Raymond Ellis, a child psychologist specializing in trauma. “If left unaddressed, it can develop into a clinical phobia that affects a person’s daily life.”
Leo is now undergoing counseling and therapy, and his parents say they are focusing on helping him recover emotionally.
“He loved animals before this,” said Mr. Martin. “He still wants to be a vet someday. But now he can’t even go into the backyard without checking for spiders.”
As the school community rallies around the Martin family, the incident has become a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of hands-on education — and the importance of balancing engagement with emotional safety.
