Too Scared To Teach

All of us have heard of school violence. Unfortunately, it happens a lot. From shootings to student fights, teaching has become a dangerous occupation. When I first started teaching, I never worried about that kind of thing. It's different now and I wonder why. What has changed? And why are we afraid to mention it?

First of all, in my opinion, there is a lack of family. It may sound old fashioned, but when there is a mom and dad, the kids have more structure. I'm not hating on single parents.... I was one. And it was beyond hard some days. But, like it or not, when a child has two loving parents, they tend to have a more structured life. 

Secondly, there is sometimes a lack of safety. Some schools I have worked in have been very laxed with safety and security. I worked in one school where one of the doors was broken and constantly left ajar. The teachers complained that the door was a hazard, but until the school had extra money, there was nothing they would do about it. It took a teacher's husband to come and replace the door at his cost. Shouldn't the school do more to make sure that the staff and students are safe? Do they think it won't happen to them? Well, it can happen anywhere.

The last point is the lockdown procedures. We turn off the lights and hide in the corner. Is that the right thing to do? What if the shooter breaks the door down and makes his way in the classroom? Do we just cower in the corner? That doesn't seem like a smart idea to me. Shouldn't we have a way to protect ourselves and the kids? One school I was in had windows in the classroom that didn't open. Isn't that a safety issue? 

Things need to change! We should not be afraid to go to school.