Violence Against Teachers
Terry Gross, the host of NPR's Fresh Air, interviews two veteran Philadelphia public school teachers who were attacked and seriously injured by students in separate incidents. The two teachers talk about the rewards and perils of teaching in inner-city schools and discuss ways that school violence can be curbed. The two teachers are articulate in stating their love for teaching and students, particularly disadvantaged students, as well as describing the horrible attacks that left them bloody and battered.
Comments
I have been teaching for 28 years. Within the last 7 years I have experienced 3 incidents of physical assault by students, 1 incident of physical fondling by 6 male students and 7 threats with intent to do bodily harm. We have no support from the administration and the Chg Teachers Union does little to support this. I have contemplated starting a coalition to support teachers/educators that have had such experiences. My close friends and other colleagues have either left the teaching profession or left our school because of the acts of violence by students against them.
Posted by: JoniAnn Jones-Chaney | November 1, 2007 10:51 AM
over the past two years I have been assaulted 3 times by students with no help from the administration. They even try to blame the teacher. The school insurance agency Sedgwick is not at all sympathetic and tends to play down the injury through their "panel" of providers. The union really doesn't stand up to the school either so the teachers are left to deal as best they can. I would like to connect with teachers in Philadelphia and start a support group. Please contact me if interested. WE have to protect ourselves.
Posted by: rosemary burke | January 28, 2008 8:30 PM
i am trying to send something to the capital to show how horrible the children are these days. the parents hands are tied and the teachers hands are tied also. I feel that paddling should be back into the schools. i feel that all discipline is not abuse, but something needs to be done.
Posted by: Yashekia Rivers | May 8, 2008 8:17 AM
Ms. Burke have you made any progress in connecting with others to get support for teachers who have been victimized by students.
Posted by: nancy flippin | June 12, 2008 9:03 PM
I also want Congress to know what they have done to help unleash the violence in schools against teachers. They want us to raise standards but they have made it impossible to feel safe while doing so. I want the classroom back, children should not have the control and tell us what we can and cannot do. They lie, hit, verbally abuse us and we have no recourse. When does this end? At this rate we will return to illiteracy because violence will become the norm if not stopped. How do we as a group of teachers get the message across to the lawmakers.
The Special Education laws make it legal for schools to breed criminals because they can harm students but return to school to harm again under the manifestation rule.
Posted by: Dianne Jackson | June 18, 2008 9:37 PM