When You Teach Violence, Don't Be Surprised When You Get It

It's Friday, but it seems like it is Freaky Friday.  What is going on today?

More news reports...this time regarding a teacher who thinks it appropriate to make comments in reference to her students including:

• Wanting to stab them
• Having an itchy trigger finger
• Dousing them with hot coffee

Her tweets which have now gone viral have earned her a letter of reprimand, but not a termination.  What?

If a student had said any of these, they would have been on a suspension list if not an expulsion list in moments.  While I am not a fan of these standards, if a school is going to have them, they can not only apply to students.

From the Newark High School website, it's Discipline Policy:

The staff of Newark Memorial High School and the Newark Board of Education believes that one of the major functions of the public schools is the preparation of youth for responsible citizenship.  Newark Memorial High School shall foster a learning environment that reinforces the concepts of self-discipline and the acceptance of personal responsibility. 

How in the world is the Newark Unified School District supporting its own policies when it settles for a reprimand instead of a termination for a teacher who advocates violence against students?

Newark Unified School District on its own website talks about bullying:

Bully . . .

Since the inception of the one room schoolhouse in the 18^th Century, bullying has occurred on school campuses across our nation.

Lately, with increased cyber bullying, we have seen an increase of suicides related to bullying.  We can no longer remain on the sidelines holding the notion that, “kids will be kids”.

Laurie Massar wrote in Leadership 2011, “While most administrators and teachers understand the global realities of the problem, the larger problem lies in their ability to recognize bullying on their own campuses.

Congrats boys and girls.  You are the bullies.  Again, their web statement is correct: the larger problem lies in the ability to recognize bullying on their own campuses.  I would say this is the definition of a problem, but they are not turning a blind eye as Laurie Massar refers.  Instead they are acting out a charade of discipline against a teacher.

Mrs. Hodges who has a cute peace symbol on her Twitter byline seems to think it okay to talk about her summer ruined teaching.  Maybe you need a break in teaching Mrs. Hodges.  It is clearly too much for you and your itchy trigger finger.