26% of US Teachers "Anxious About Physical Safety"
Moves to Protect Teachers' Rights in Some Areas

Local reports have emerged that American teachers are also complaining about violations of their professional rights. The main causes are student violence and verbal abuse, as well as pressure from parents.


On the 26th, The Washington Post (WP) covered the issue of violations of American teachers' professional rights. It is analyzed that the problem has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

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Tyler Johnson, a former teacher in Maryland, revealed that physical fights among students have become more frequent, and he was once punched in the face while trying to break up a fight between two teenage students.


He also said he was repeatedly subjected to homophobic slurs and racial discrimination by students, adding, "It seems that students and parents have forgotten that teachers also have emotions." Eventually, he transferred to a prestigious school with a better environment.


Another teacher in Washington DC said that last year, he was assaulted by a relative of a student in front of young students. He still does not know why it happened.


Another teacher in a nearby area was stabbed with a knife wielded by a student after disciplining them by saying, "You all need to do your own work properly." He said, "In over 20 years as a teacher, this is the first time I have experienced such a thing. Now I feel fear when teaching."


According to a survey by the think tank RAND Corporation, 26% of teachers reported feeling anxious about their physical safety due to factors such as student misconduct, verbal conflicts, and school shootings.


In particular, students' mental health issues have become serious during the COVID-19 pandemic. After COVID-19, over 80% of public schools found developmental delays in students' behavioral and social-emotional aspects.


Because of this, some U.S. state governments have legislated to ensure a safe learning environment and protect teachers' professional rights.


In Florida, the "Teacher Bill of Rights" was codified to strengthen teachers' authority to control classrooms, and in Nevada, laws were amended to prohibit suspension or expulsion of students under 11 years old, lowering the age of students subject to discipline.



Additionally, West Virginia and Kentucky enacted laws strengthening teachers' authority to remove disruptive students from classrooms, and bills expanding teachers' disciplinary authority over students have been proposed in Texas and North Carolina as well.


This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.

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