Student violence against teachers is on the rise
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Since the start of the Covid pandemic, teachers and other school personnel across America have reported an increase in physical violence committed against them by students.
And while official records are incomplete – since many states either don’t track student assaults or use different methodologies – the limited data that's available backs up these claims.
A few examples:
- This academic year, the number of assault-related workers’ compensation claims filed in US schools rose above 1,350 – its highest level since at least 2018, per a new WSJ report. The claims are more serious, too, with the average payout having increased 26% over the past five years to reach $6,700.
- As schools were returning to in-person instruction in Fall 2021, the Department of Homeland Security warned teachers of a recent uptick in student-perpetrated violence, which the agency mostly blamed on social isolation from the pandemic.
- A recent American Psychological Association study of 15,000 teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and other school staff found that 1 out of every 6 workers experienced at least one incident of physical violence from students over the 2020-21 school year – and that figure is likely underreported due to the prevalence of remote learning.
🏫 Big picture: The APA study also found that nearly half of all US teachers (49%) were planning or thinking about an exit from the teaching profession in the near future. The top reason they cited for wanting to do so? Feeling unsafe.
📊 Flash poll: Calling all 15,000+ classrooms reading the DONUT: What policies or changes would you enact to combat the recent increase in student violence against school staff? The most thoughtful answers will be featured in tomorrow’s newsletter.
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that America’s schools need to address the growing problem of school violence in order to retain an acceptable level of teachers, who are increasingly fed up with the situation and are quitting in droves.
- Others contend that the recent rise in student violence among schools is a symptom of the general spike in violence present in American society in recent years, especially after the pandemic and George Floyd protests.
- “Tackle teacher shortages now” –Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Editorial Board
- “Violence in Schools Seems to Be Increasing. Why?” –Stephen Sawchuck, Education Weekly
- “More police in schools are not the answer. It’s up to educators to make schools safe” –Lori Bezahler, The Hechinger Report
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the recent trend of schools instituting “restorative justice” reforms that go too easy on students has resulted in an increase in violence from said students.
- Others contend that until the problem of violence in schools is dealt with, schools (and taxpayers) will be forced to carry the burden in the form of increased school salaries, since workers won’t accept less for such an environment.
- “Bipartisan agreement at restorative justice increased school violence in Nevada” –Las Vegas Review-Journal Editorial Board
- “As long as schools are violent, it will be hard to retain teachers” –Post Bulletin Editorial Board
- “Return Boston police to public schools” –Boston Herald Editorial Board
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