What is a teacher to do when a fight erupts in their classroom? That is the question doing the rounds at the moment, thanks to the case of a Dallas teacher who responded to a fist fight in his classroom by doing absolutely nothing.
Video of a student punching another student in a local classroom has sparked a debate about student safety. More precisely, should teachers get involved to break up fights?
The Dallas Independent School District said it is still investigating a fight that apparently happened this past Thursday at Seagoville High School. The district believes YouTube video of the incident likely tells only part of the story.
The video shows 17-year-old Michael Milczanowksi getting punched over and over during geometry class. His teacher stands by watching as he appears to take several blows to the head.
While it may seem the teacher could have intervened, a teacher’s union president said that is not what teachers are told to do.
“In today’s society which is a violent society, you do not touch the student. That should be left up to the administration,” said Rena Honea of Alliance-AFT. “I believe that that is for the safety of number one the students, but for the individual teacher as well.”
The district said it has no policy on how teachers should handle student fights because every situation is different.
“The altercation on the video shot at Seagoville High School is clearly inappropriate. The district has zero tolerance for violence in the classroom and has responded accordingly,” DISD said in a statement.
DISD said the student who threw the punches in the video has faced disciplinary action and could face assault charges. But the district would not comment on if the teacher was disciplined because “it’s a personnel matter.”
The video of the fight can be viewed by following this link.
The teacher has been supported by both school and union based on the fact that teachers are not covered for injuries incurred from breaking up a fight. Why not? Why can’t a teacher in today’s age have insurance cover for injuries, both incidental and reckless, at the hands of students?
And just because he may have the right to refrain from breaking up a fight, how is it excusable for him to sit back and watch as his student is being punched by a classmate? Why wasn’t the teacher instructing someone to call for help? Where is the urgency? Why doesn’t he react in any way?
What is the point of calling yourself a safe and secure environment for children if you are not compelled to actively and decisively do everything in your power to ensure that your students are safe?
It’s time for insurance companies to remove the stumbling block that deters teachers from breaking up fights. It’s time for schools to improve their culture and hand out severe consequences for bullies and bullying behaviour. And it’s time for teachers to do what they can to curb bullying and protect victims.
Topical Teaching 