Where’s Joe Clark when you need him. Something tells me this would never have happened under his watch.
All you need do is look at the following video – which is graphic – due both to the language and the violence.

The teacher is teaching 9th grade physics, and sees a student using a cellphone. Turns out that students bringing cellphones to class is allowed – however they’d have to be used for classroom tasks and nothing else.

The cellphone belongs to another student, who then tries to take his phone back from the teacher, and in the process of doing so begins to struggle with the teacher.

A couple of things disturb me.

Obviously the fact that not one of the other students gets involved and comes to the aid of the teacher.
The other is that the teacher, probably by rule, can’t lay a hand on a student – even in a case such as this.

“Let me say that this is a very upsetting incident and certainly one that we take seriously as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority.”

She said the student while on suspension will receive home instruction and a disciplinary hearing will determine “an appropriate, educational placement” for the rest of the school year.

Who knows? That’s probably what he’s been aiming for anyway – “home instruction!”
And as far as “an appropriate educational placement for the rest of the school year,” why not start with jail.

However it bring me to question why it is that in situations such as this that teachers can’t defend themselves?

One need only to troll the internet and see instances where teachers have been either threatened or attacked by unruly students – with teachers becoming virtual punching bags or worse – while other students stand by and do nothing.

“It’s troubling that in our society today students think that inside a school they can put their hands on each other and teachers as well.” “I went online trying to find this video and I found numerous videos of teachers being attacked by their students.”

And what have the teachers done? Nothing.

Not that I can blame them. Their hands are tied.

But should they be able to defend themselves if a student attacks them?

Were it up to me, I’d seek permission to carry a gun!

Ahh, but wait.
New Jersey is a "may carry" state - not a "shall carry state!"
And who knows, a judge might not decide this situation wouldn't constitute an "urgent need to carry" on the part of the teacher.

Sad - no?

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