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Advice - struck in the head by a student

by ATeacher

Dec 12, 2010

I am in need of some advice.

The other day I was teaching in class when a student of mine (15 years old) was paged to come to the office to get something she has left at home. I was standing up in the room going over material, and allowed the girl to go to the office. Everyone else was seated, and only the girl and I were standing. At this point, before leaving the room, she walked behind me and hit me in the head with her binder. I immediately turned around and tried to grab the binder, but she did not give it to me. I tried again and got the binder out of her hands.

I requested for her to be removed from my classroom immediately, and that request was denied twice. The only punishment she got was a Saturday School, which is the same punishment for not serving a detention (and a student can get a detention for being tardy to class). I am unsatisfied with this punishment and was wondering what rights I have as a teacher. I do not feel safe in my classroom or confiden...See More

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ATeacher Additionally, this striking caused me to have a headache the rest of that day and on into the next day. She hit me in the back/top of the head area.

On 12/12/10, ATeacher wrote: > I am in need of some advice. > > The other day I was teaching in class when a student of > mine (15 years old) was paged to come to the office to ge...See More

Dec 12, 2010

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D. Thomas And what was the response from Administration when you asked why she recieved a consequence equivalent to skipping detention?

And, are you a member of a union?

On 12/12/10, ATeacher wrote: > Additionally, this striking caused me to have a headache the > rest of that day and on into the next day. She hit me in the > back/t...See More

Dec 12, 2010

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Bill T 6 nc I am new to this board. Never been here before. I had a similar experience a few years back. This is what I did...

I was supervising my own classroom and the hallway just outside, as I was assigned to do, early one morning. We permitted our students to go to their lockers in staggered groups, bottom lockers, then top. It was our standard ...See MoreI am new to this board. Never been here before. I had a similar experience a few years back. This is what I did...

I was supervising my own classroom and the hallway just outside, as I was assigned to do, early one morning. We permitted our students to go to their lockers in staggered groups, bottom lockers, then top. It was our standard procedure and nothing new. As I stood in the doorway of my classroom, one of my students, a 15 year old, about 6 foot three, decided he wanted to go to his locker right then and did not want to wait. When I would not move from the doorway and calmly asked him to sti down, the boy shoved me out of the way. I'm fairly big and that wasn't an easy thing to do. I immediately summoned our administration, explaining that I had been assaulted by a student. Our resource police officer arrived about 5 minutes later and proceeded to take the side of the student, saying that I "impeded" him by requiring him to remain in the classroom. A little background note here. This was an inner city school and the admin frequently sided with the minority students because they came from such a "rough" neighborhood. Had the student been caucasian.... Back to my anecdote.

I pulled out my cellphone and told the resource officer that he had thirty seconds to do something about the situation or I would call 9-1-1 and summon a "real cop" (my exact words); the choice was up to him. He took the student down to the office, but he was back not 20 minutes later,with admin taking no action.

After school that day, I went downtown and took out assault charges, then went to central office and filed a grievance. Admin at my school was horrified, telling me that my actions made the school "look bad." I replied that no, they did a good enough job of doing that themselves and needed no help from me. I also told them I was seeking legal counsel and was considering filing a civil suit, alledging that they were allowing a "hostile work environment" to exist in the school. I contacted my teacher's association (NCAE) but in typical fashion, they showed weak kneed reaction. I then told them I was thinking of contacting the national headquarters and telling them that the local chapter would not advocate for their members even when their personal safety was in jeopardy.

If there is anything the "suits" fear, it is litigation and bad PR.

Don't take this laying down. If they can mistreat you, they can mistreat others as well and will unless they know it will cost them.

Please let us know how this goes

Dec 12, 2010

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use as learning experience, next time file formal charges On 12/12/10, ATeacher wrote: > I am in need of some advice. > > The other day I was teaching in class when a student of > mine (15 years old) was paged to come to the office to get > something she has left at home. I was standing up in the > room going over material, and allowed the girl to go to the > office. Everyone else was...See More

Feb 12, 2012

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