DID YOU EVER KICK OR SPIT ON A TEACHER AT SCHOOL?

DID YOU EVER KICK OR SPIT ON A TEACHER AT SCHOOL?

I just read a disturbing article in The Globe and Mail about the increasing violence against teachers by students in our Canadian schools. Biting, kicking, spitting, scratching, punching, blows to the head and other aggressive behaviour by students against teachers is on the rise. During my 34 year career in education, I can honestly say this kind of behaviour was extremely rare and almost non existent. In one BC school division, incidents of violence have increased from less than 200 in 2009, to over 1600 in 2018. I shake my head and wonder what the hell is going on?

Of course, our rather permissive society has presented a number of reasons to explain this new violent phenomenon. Educators and district administrators cite a handful of factors including mental-health issues, child poverty, and the integration of special-needs students with complex behavioural issues into mainstream classrooms.

The result? Classrooms being repeatedly evacuated because of a disruptive child; staff on medical leave for prolonged periods after being physically hurt; families increasingly asked to pickup their children early or keep them home for an indefinite period because of behavioural issues; and other parents fearing for the safety of their own children.

One very extreme example of the problem involved a special education teacher in Ontario. Because of the unpredictable behaviour of one of her autistic students the teacher wore a Kevlar coat, gloves and a baseball hat lined with hard plastic. When the teacher attempted to break up an attack by the 15-year old student on a smaller child, the teacher was hit about the head over 40 times by the student. The teacher was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. a ruptured ear drum and in the aftermath of the attack, suffered a stroke, which partially numbed her left side. The teacher was not able to return to work for 18 months.

This extreme example is not common, but it should never occur under any circumstance. The fact that the teacher had to arm herself with protective clothing obviously foretold the possible danger that the student might pose. There is absolutely no reason that any teacher should ever be placed in this position. A child who poses a physical threat to anyone - himself, other students, or the teacher - does not really belong in a regular classroom setting.

Of course, every parent of a special-needs child, will argue that their child has the right to attend a regular school. If that is true, then there are a number of parallel responsibilities that accompany that right. Parents have the responsibility of preparing their child for the kind of behaviour that is acceptable and expected at school. The student has the responsibility of being accountable for his behaviour and deportment. If either the parent or child cannot assure appropriate behaviour, then, the “right” to attend has to be questioned. If my granddaughter is in danger in her classroom because of the potential violence of a high-needs student, then I believe that her right to a safe and secure school learning opportunity is being denied! Her rights will have been violated! Who is advocating for her?

The purpose of schooling is to educate. They are not branches of the medical profession nor arms of mental health treatment centres. They were not instituted to provide food and clothing for needy children nor to provide babysitting or act as a social services centre. They are not there to provide for the special requests and philosophies of every parent regarding each individual child. Public schools are only mandated to teach the prescribed curriculum to the best of their ability. In doing so, they should not need to tolerate any acts of violence or aggression in carrying out their mandate to teach!

When is the silent majority going to take a stand on the issue?