Ok, so I just got punched in the neck breaking up a fight in the halls. I don't really think the kid meant to do it, I don't even think he realized that he connected
but it's still a punch in the neck
and it still friggin' hurts.
The school board tells us not to get between students having physical confrontations. They specifically tell us not to break up fights. The idea behind this is that making contact with a student, even if it's an attempt to restrain or protect them could lead to accusations of impropriety, or even a lawsuit.
The county tells us to let them fight, and then just suspend everyone involved.
...I don't get that.
To me, letting a fight go on in the hall and then cleaning up the mess afterwards makes teachers look like pussies. It perpetuates the appearance that we are nothing more than obstacles that need to worked around in order for normal social activities to take place. I mean, stuffs gonna happen one way or the other -- I'm not naive enough to think otherwise, but if the kids start to look at us like we're hockey referees who will simply toss them in a penatly box after they do the crime, then what the hell good are we?
At the same time, there are a handful of teachers and administrators around here who act like a dress code violation or having a personal CD player is a capital offense that should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It's like the system works too hard persecuting the little things and then looks the other way or "waits until it's over" when something serious actually happens.
And it's not like these kids can't figure it out.
...It's not like these kids don't know.
but it's still a punch in the neck
and it still friggin' hurts.
The school board tells us not to get between students having physical confrontations. They specifically tell us not to break up fights. The idea behind this is that making contact with a student, even if it's an attempt to restrain or protect them could lead to accusations of impropriety, or even a lawsuit.
The county tells us to let them fight, and then just suspend everyone involved.
...I don't get that.
To me, letting a fight go on in the hall and then cleaning up the mess afterwards makes teachers look like pussies. It perpetuates the appearance that we are nothing more than obstacles that need to worked around in order for normal social activities to take place. I mean, stuffs gonna happen one way or the other -- I'm not naive enough to think otherwise, but if the kids start to look at us like we're hockey referees who will simply toss them in a penatly box after they do the crime, then what the hell good are we?
At the same time, there are a handful of teachers and administrators around here who act like a dress code violation or having a personal CD player is a capital offense that should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It's like the system works too hard persecuting the little things and then looks the other way or "waits until it's over" when something serious actually happens.
And it's not like these kids can't figure it out.
...It's not like these kids don't know.