[LWalk18]

Thanks, summer- One point that was not addressed in that very bias article- what are the suspension rates at schools with black principals and faculty. I went to high school with a black principal and guess what- same disparity existed. It's not racism- it's behavior that begins early and is protected, if not encouraged by the parents (or parent). I can tell you of the number of teachers that I have had that are out of teaching...and I've been out of high school for only five years...because of the discipinary problems. Even the ones who attempted to be "down" with their students would be victimized...my young Calculus teacher was like that and she ended up getting her car stolen by one of the thugs in her other classes. I remember when our class would come in she would be in tears from the other (standard and lower) classes.

I can go on and on about my high school...the thug contingent was awful and disrupted teachers and real students. My mom worked as a substitute teacher and she can give you horror stories...and this was middle and elementary school!

[summer]

Re your post #49 - Thank you for your entire post here, LWalk18. This part reminded me of a teacher I know:

...my young Calculus teacher was like that and she ended up getting her car stolen by one of the thugs in her other classes. I remember when our class would come in she would be in tears from the other (standard and lower) classes.

I have a friend who is in her 6th year of teaching and it may be her last, because she now has a permanent back injury -- yes, for life -- thanks to two high school students who decided to have a fight as she was eating lunch at a table with her special ed class, and one of the students pushed the other one onto this teacher, who fell back and just about broke her back.

And, no, the union didn't give lift a finger in her case either. Teaching can be a really hazardous profession. I tell her to be happy that at least the kid didn't pull a gun on the student, and miss and hit her.