Teachers are people too. This thought has come to mind so often over the past few months. We have emotions, fears, and past traumas stored in our DNA. Yet, we are expected to endure abuse all in the name of educating students. We are expected to continuously have violent and verbally abusive students in our classrooms because THEY have a right to an education. All sane people would, and do, ask....what about the rights of the other students in the classroom? Don't THEY have a right to a safe environment where they can learn? I have come to learn that the answer to that is a hard no. The next question that many ask is don't teachers have a right to feel safe and be protected? Again, the answer to that is a hard no. Oh sure, districts will tell you that they care about the well being of students and teachers. But we all know that actions speak way louder than words. Words are just noise when not backed by actions.
Teachers are told to instill character in students. We are to teach them to be caring, respectful, responsible, trustworthy, and fair. We should teach them these values and virtues by modeling them, pointing them out in student behavior, and providing lessons on them. When abusive and disruptive students are allowed to continually be in the classroom with little to no consequences, aren't we just teaching words? We are not teaching truths. How are we to lead children to become good citizens with these virtues if this is what they witness and experience?
Unsurprisingly, yet truly heartbreaking, teachers are leaving the profession in throngs. Many have termed it the great resignation. The teachers I know who have left, and those prepared to leave, do not do so because they are bored, want more money, or dislike teaching. Sadly, it is because their mental health takes top priority. Not only are teachers affected by the toxicity and abuse, but their families are as well.
And while we are on the topic of being affected by toxicity and abuse, we can't leave out the most important people affected - the children. It behooves me to realize all that these little people have to endure every single day. Students have told me how afraid they are. This is not right! Children should be able to attend school and feel safe mentally and physically. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Teachers and parents have to start speaking up. We have to fight for the rights of the children and teachers affected by disruptive and dangerous behaviors. Accepting these things will never promote change. Your voice matters!
In a nutshell, we are teaching our future leaders that being fearful, called derogatory things, and experiencing physical violence is normal. They are learning to be abused. They are also learning to be abusers. They are learning to live with anxiety. All of this is so wrong. We have to take a stand and show children they matter.
