SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2006 One of my local TV stations did this story on their 10pm news the other night: Teachers Claim They're Not Safe In Their Classrooms Superintendent Dismisses Claims As 'Ridiculous' POSTED: 8:35 am CST February 8, 2006 UPDATED: 11:42 am CST February 8, 2006 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some teachers in one of the metropolitan's largest school districts say they have been shoved, punched, even at times, threatened with their lives. Teachers told KMBC's Kris Ketz that students assaulting them happens a lot and that the district is not doing enough to stop it. What is going on in these classrooms? One high school teacher agreed to speak out only if his identity was withheld. "I've had a desk thrown at me. I've had textbooks thrown at me, my glasses smashed. I've had a bottle broken over my head," the teacher said. Ketz reported that those incidents the teacher mentioned happened awhile ago. "This year, I've been grabbed by a student and thrown physically out of the classroom, or shoved physically out of the classroom. I've had a student grab a hold of me and tell me he was going to take a swing at me if I didn't get out of their way. I've had a student who told me I was going to be offed if I didn't pass him in my class that I was teaching at the time," the teacher said. Ketz said that the teacher doesn't want his identity or the school he teaches in known because he fears the school district may fire him. A KMBC 9 News investigation revealed that this teacher is hardly alone. Ketz asked the school district for the number of times that a teacher was assaulted by a high school student. Last school year, a teacher in the Kansas City, Mo., School District was assaulted by a student in school 67 times. That is almost three assaults a week. So far this school year, it has happened 41 times. Ketz reported that assaults on teachers happen maybe once or twice a year in other big school districts like Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley and North Kansas City. "But see, let's not make that conclusion either. We're talking about 41 incidents over grades 9 through 12, eight schools, we're talking close to what about 8,000 or 9,000 kids here. So let's keep this in perspective here," Kansas City Superintendent Dr. Bernard Taylor said. "This is not a Central (High School) problem, this is a Kansas City, Mo., School District problem." Teacher complaints about their own safety are nothing new, Ketz reported. The issue was center stage last November when some Central High School teachers staged a sick-out after a suspension was reduced for a student who brought a Taser gun to school. School board members heard even more from some teachers. "The teacher two doors down from had some young person that she was trying to encourage to put away her cell phone and not talk on the phone when she was trying to teach. And (the girl) walked up to her and gave her a big shove right into the door," one teacher said. "Is this a safe school district to teach in? Yes. It ... look, if there's one thing that bothers me more than anything else, it is to hear that nonsense. I've been in every one of these schools. Do you see me traveling with a bodyguard?" Taylor said. Ketz reported that Taylor bristles at any suggestion that schools are unsafe. "Where the student has crossed over the line that should never have been crossed, that student is going to be disciplined. Period. End of story," Taylor said. "I would challenge (Taylor) to come out and deal with one of those students on a long-term basis because I'm hearing from teachers all over the district that this year's and last year's freshmen classes are the worst they've encountered in their teaching careers," the teacher told Ketz. Teacher continues calling for stricter enforcement of the code of conduct. Teachers say that they're concerned for their safety. Taylor: "I don't understand why anybody would stay in a place where they are that afraid. That's ludicrous." Ketz: "There are teachers in this district who say that every single day." Taylor: "Well, you know what they need to do, they need to find someplace else to work because it is not, these schools are safe. Kids learn. Teachers can teach and it's absolutely, it's ridiculous." As for what is next, Ketz reported that there are school board elections in the spring and a search will be conducted for a superintendent to replace Taylor, whose contract was not renewed. http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/6835919/detail.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cowboy Battlenuts 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Just hire Tom Berenger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conspiracy_Victim 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Just hire Tom Berenger. Or Treat Williams. Sure the movies were shit but at least he got a topless Angie Everhart scene. And he beat up Maxx Payne. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Ol' Smitty 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Cue Coolio. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Teach them the works of Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas. And get a hottie like Michelle Phieffer to teach. Then hire Jon Lovitz. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Zaius 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2006 Yeah, I love the way Hollywood portrays troubled inner-city schools as just needing one good white person to save all the kids and make them care. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vampiro69 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2006 Well I am crossing that district off my list for future employment. I will avoid their booth at the next teachers job fair. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2006 Yeah, I love the way Hollywood portrays troubled inner-city schools as just needing one good white person to save all the kids and make them care. White teachers are the only hope for black children. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vampiro69 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2006 I would love to see a movie where a black teacher comes in and saves a suburban school. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2006 Maybe he can teach those crackas how to dance! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Ol' Smitty 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2006 Yeah, I love the way Hollywood portrays troubled inner-city schools as just needing one good white person to save all the kids and make them care. Yeah. I'm a white teacher at a predominantly black school and I've yet to save shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2006 Well I am crossing that district off my list for future employment. I will avoid their booth at the next teachers job fair. True story: every job fair I've been too, the KCMSD reps just stand around bored for 3 hours because no one wants to talk to them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
