The classroom can be a scary place, even if you are a teacher. Those who are assaulted by students – some as young as elementary age – complain that they get too little support from above.
At a meeting of the Illinois House Violence Prevention Task Force. State Rep Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) asked a representative of the Illinois Education Association, Unique Morris, just what that is supposed to mean.
“There are severe behavior issues within the classroom. When (teachers) reach out to the administration, they will say, this is what is going on in the classroom, what are some consequences? There is nothing that (administrators) seem to be able to do, ” Morris answered “They will say, because of Senate Bill 100, we are not allowed to have any consequences. Which I know is not true.”
She is referring to a bill meant to curb expulsions.
The new contract for District 186 teachers does contain language for more security, after teachers told the school board the students are beating them up.
The task force chairman, former Chicago schoolteacher and State Rep LaShawn Ford (D-Cbicago), says the problem is a comprehensive one. “When I talk to the community, many people really only focus on the major violence like school shootings and things like that, but it all leads up when we have communities and schools that are not healthy.”
Ford said in his experience, students are perceptive enough to know when a teacher is unprepared – and take full advantage.