Unfortunately, the only way to be sure of the stories of what happens in a classroom is to put cameras in schools where violence is an issue. It may be something that principals need to consider so that they can really understand what is happening between teachers and students. Visiting the classroom creates an unrealistic dynamic as everyone changes their behavior when the principal is present.

Well, I think we need to clarify "striking." I have seen students flip out if a teacher touches them at all. A hand on their shoulder or forearm, an arm out to keep them back, and pushing/pulling the student off of another student have all resulted in teacher attacks. Am I going to stop doing those things because other teachers have been hurt? No, because nine times out of ten, I am protecting another student or myself during the altercation.
I have never seen or heard of a teacher in my school angrily attacking a student using physical force. If that happens, I feel as though there should be consequences for that teacher.
However, it is incredibly difficult to get a straight story. The honest students would be intimidated by those who tell them not to "snitch."
I wish there were video of the things that go on in my school. Only with that concrete proof would anybody actually believe us.

From what I've heard in the rumor mill, the student had special needs. Given the court order on special education in the city I bet they have to pass anything by the lawyers that even moderately relates to special education, which would explain why there has been no published report. Even if the teacher didn't stike first, if a special needs student is put in a bad situation (by which I mean an overwhelmingly frustrating situation) with un-trained teacher and then strikes out, it would seem to me that BCPSS and the teacher share a good part of the blame for the incident.

Students have been using the excuse that the teacher put their hand on them for years. Just as reports at crime scenes that the police officer was at fault, the same culture exists in schools. Most teachers don't place a finger on students because of the allegations. Many students have discovered that making that accusation gets them off the hook. I don't believe that a teacher would hit first, however, I do believe that a teacher should be able to defent themselves, forcefully if necesary.

While we must treat any allegations with some merit, just to guard against the three or four teachers in the whole system who might actually start a fight, I would argue that the overwhelming majority of teachers would never lay a hand on their students in a threatening way.

Unfortunately, our system gives such merit to these sort of student claims that it empowers students to make up lies in any of these situations in order to get themselves out of trouble - and it works! In fact, I'm reminded of the time an Assistant Principal for another grade walked into my classroom and in front of students started accusing me of telling students in her grade she was ineffective as an AP. She based her accusation on three students from her grade I had written up because they were running around and yelling outside my classroom - one floor up from where they should have been.

If I had been a new teacher, I would not have known what to do. However, as an "experienced" second year, empowered by the fact that I was good at what I did and was supported by my Principal, I firmly informed that AP that she was to leave my classroom before I called security for harassing me in front of students. Ultimately, we met with the Principal who found out that other teachers on the floor who saw me write up the students could corroborate my story.

Point of my story - one that many teachers in this system have probably experienced in some form - is that our school LEADERS need to take workshops in effective leadership, effective student discipline, supporting the faculty, and how to create a school climate that is conducive to learning.

Children have one job: to figure out how to push the limits and circumvent the adults. That is their right as they grow up. Our job as the adults, however, is to teach them that limits are firmly in place, that we will consistently enforce those limits, and that because we love our students, any actions they take that are outside the limits, including lying about a teacher hitting them, will always have consequences. The children ARE doing their job. It is the adults, especially parents and many administrators, who are not doing their job and as a result, we find ourselves in our current situation.

So I know that this is just a little off topic although I can see from Artie's comments that it seems more on point (great insight BTW). If teachers are "frustrated" and not feeling supported I URGE them to transfer away from schools and head towards better city schools. The transformation schools, charter schools and other such schools are waiting for these dedicated teachers. I am involved in one such school now and am working with another that will open this coming fall. One reason that I wanted to start a school is to ensure that students have their needs met by caring adults. I also wanted to make sure that teachers are valued and supported (as well as families). There ARE good schools out there, there are great school leaders out there. All of this exists within BCPSS. It's time for good teachers to "talk with their feet" and leave administrators who don't know what leadership looks like behind. I say the same to the families and students - you have other choices - schools that understand culture is vital to learning, schools that will notice and care if you leave in the middle of the day, don't understand something, are having problems and so on. With Alonso's plan, and dedicated educators it CAN and WILL be better. Better for ALL students, yes, even those who are angry and don't know how to express it.

Also I want to say, where is the OUTRAGE???? And I don't just mean on a blog. Why are people (students, families, teachers) not storming the school board meetings and DEMANDING better conditions? I have worked in disfuntional BCPSS schools and know how bad it can be. I often thought that if this type of situation happened at Mt. Royal or Roldand Park or Mt. Washington there would be a fire storm, area offices would be called, media would be called, the CEO's office would be called.

baltimorecivitas@gmail.com

Sara,

I'm a former Baltimore City teacher who has quite a story to tell about this issue, but I need a way to tell it and remain anonymous. Is that possible?

Anonymous: You're welcome to tell a story as a comment here on the blog, but you may need to leave individual names out because we can't publish accusations against people without giving them an opportunity to respond. I'd also be happy to talk to you, but I cannot publish any stories anonymously in the newspaper. Feel free to email me at sara.neufeld@baltsun.com.