Violence against teachers costs over $2 billion annually. Not only are the teachers damaged by the threats but also students that observe the threats of violence.
Threats Against Educators are Expensive
Each year, students threaten teachers and even assault them. What are the costs for this behavior?
- Lost wages
- Lost days of work
- Need to train and replace teachers who leave prematurely
- Lost instructional time
- Medical and psychological care
- Student disciplinary proceedings
- Increased workers’ compensation claims and premiums
- Incarceration of perpetrators [1]
Teachers are already leaving the field because of burn out, poor work environment and lack of support from parents and administrators. Violence from students only adds to the already existing problem.
Locations for Violence Against Teachers
Just where is the violence occurring? Where are the 7%?
- Cities – 109,800
- Suburbs – 78,100
- Towns – 27,500
- Rural areas – 37,700
- Secondary schools – 139,400
- Elementary schools – 113,700
- Male teachers attacked – 78,500
- Female teachers attacked – 174,500
The pattern seems higher incidents in an urban setting, in secondary schools and with female teachers.
Strong Classroom Management Decreases Violence
Teachers that have a firm handle on behaviors in the classrooms are less likely to be victims of violence. The American Psychological Association makes some suggestions.
- Clearly state classroom rules.
- Be consistent
- Model and reward positive behavior (PBS-Positive Behavior Supports)
- Show students you care about each of them.
- Minimize transition times
- Give students opportunities to make choices
- Use common sense and be flexible with rule interpretation
- Notice changes in student moods
- Avoid confrontations in front of other students
- Teach and model problem solving, anger management, and empathy
- Avoid blaming
- Validate student’s perspectives
- Don’t jump to conclusions about the causes of problems [1]
These basic concepts provide an atmosphere of respect and fairness.
Good Teaching Practices Promote Academic Engagement
Students are more likely to pay attention and be interested in a lesson if it is planned well. Students need to have the lessons tailored to their needs and be interesting.
- Link daily lessons to life and needs of students
- Demonstrate relevancy
- Create expectations of success for all students
- Give students very specific feedback about what they did right
- Structure a learning task in a way that sustains engagement
- Maintain privacy of grades
- Engage in cooperative learning
- Maximize instructional time and keep students on task
- Build on students’ strengths [1]
These components will keep a class running smoothly. However, there are factors that teachers can not control.
Issues that Predict Classroom Violence
There are experiences in a student’s life that can predict the possibility of violence against a teacher. If a teacher knows the students in the classroom, there is a better chance of predicting a problem. There are factors that make violence more likely.
- Peer isolation
- Academic stress
- Strained relationship with teacher
- Economic stress
- Natural disasters
- Physical, sexual and emotional abuse
- Exposure to violence, aggression bullying or gang conflict
- Hunger, allergies, sleep deprivation
- Prejudice
- Family member fighting in war
- Peer humiliation
- Parent divorce
- Arrest of parent
- Death of family member, friend or classmate
- Break-up with boy/girlfriend [1]
If a teacher knows the students in the classroom, being aware if the above are present can reduce the risks of a student getting frustrated to the point of violence. How can a teacher defuse a situation?
Teachers Can Diffuse Stressful Situations
If a teacher knows a student is stressed, the situation can be diffused with many responses.
- Acknowledge the student is upset.
- Consult with school personnel
- Redirect student to an alternative task
- Use a calm, positive tone of voice – avoid a confrontation
- Give students two or three choices of academic tasks to manage behavior and increase success
- Use verbal praise intermittently in class
- Restate expectations and classroom rules
- Use humor, but not sarcasm to defuse conflicts
- Move close enough to student to engage or redirect behavior (3-5 feet), yet respect personal space [1]
Drawing a line in the sand often enrages an already angry student. Speak softly, respect the student and solve the problem privately.
When Students are Violent
What if a teacher does everything right but the student still resorts to violence? There are steps to follow:
- Isolate the student
- Remove other students from the area if you cannot isolate the student
- Allow cool-down time
- Document the incident
- Resume your regular schedule [1]
Violence against teachers can be greatly reduced if the teacher stays alert to warning signs. But, if the situation can not be avoided, keeping everyone safe is top priority.
[1] American Psychological Association, "Violence Against Teachers: A Silent National Crisis," 2010.
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
