Usually, educators are the ones who are asking for help with unruly children who are out of control in the school or in their classes. In Williamson County, it was parents who were pleading for action after alleged assaults in an elementary classroom.

A father says his daughter was threatened with scissors and physically assaulted by a classmate at Allendale Elementary. The father said, “We are not the only parents who have raised the alarm about this troubled young man. You are failing all of our young children, including this young man.” This gentleman is absolutely correct.

Student violence in U.S. K-12 schools poses a significant challenge, encompassing a range of concerning behaviors such as bullying, physical fights, and, in the most tragic instances, shootings. This complex issue not only jeopardizes student safety but also disrupts the overall learning environment. Therefore, communities need to unite and develop effective solutions. Although schools are still generally safe, many educators remain concerned about the potential for student attacks. In Virginia, teacher Abigail Werner was awarded $10 million in damages after being shot by a 6-year-old in school.

In recent days in Tennessee, there have been troubling incidents involving students. A driver was injured after being hit by an elementary school student on a school bus at Waverly-Belmont Elementary in Davidson County. Meanwhile, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an assault at Wartburg Central Middle School, where one student was taken to the hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Additionally, at Moore Magnet Elementary School in Montgomery County, a student was found with an unloaded gun.

Violence in our schools includes physical fights (61% of schools), bullying (19% of high school students), and firearm possession (10 per 100,000 students). Additionally, 3.5% of schools reported hate crimes. Contributing factors involve rising mental health issues, access to weapons, social media’s role in threats, and staffing shortages, which make behavior management more difficult. A disturbing trend of assaults against teachers is growing in Tennessee. According to a survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, 10% of educators stated that they have been physically assaulted or attacked by a student.

Across the state, educators are forced to face an impossible decision: continue to follow the career they love despite an increase in school violence or walk away from teaching entirely. This should never be a choice that teachers must make.

In Tennessee, we have the Educator Bill of Rights, which protects teachers’ rights to a safe classroom and the ability to report student abuse. The Teacher’s Discipline Act took effect in 2022 to improve classroom safety. While these bills have made some progress in helping our teachers deal with violent behavior, we can and must do more. We need parents to support all teachers and ensure they have a safe work environment, and that all students learn in a secure environment.

It is essential to hold students accountable for their actions. One way to do this is to establish clear disciplinary procedures for students who display disruptive or violent behavior. These measures should include appropriate consequences to discourage such actions. To address this issue effectively, we must ensure that violent students are held responsible, teachers have access to the necessary resources to manage such behavior, and parents are kept informed about their children’s conduct.

Please always take student threats seriously, even if you think they will not act. Explain why their comments are inappropriate and how others may view them as threats. Emphasize that feeling angry is normal, but they should express it safely and positively. If a student poses a serious threat or has harmed themselves, inform the principal right away. Consider the student’s age, past behavior, and intent. School districts should make their rules for handling threats of violence clear to the public, and police involvement may be necessary in some cases.

Establishing a secure and encouraging learning atmosphere necessitates a joint effort among teachers, administrators, parents, students, and the broader community. By utilizing various tactics and staying dedicated to the welfare of educators, Tennessee can strive towards a future where teachers can flourish, and students acquire knowledge in a safe and supportive environment. All schools should be a secure environment for students and teachers alike.

JC Bowman is the executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee.  

He is the Contributing Editor for TriStar Daily.