Coming from a former high school teacher, I think there is something missing to this story, but you be the judge after you take a look @ the YouTube(ry)…
I just don’t believe that a teacher can let her class get that out of hand, and be surprised that this type of behavior happened. To some, that may sound harsh, but until you’ve stepped inside an out of control classroom, then you really don’t have a clue. In no way am I excusing the actions of the high school student, but if you tell somebody to have a seat, and they start playing “knuck if you buck” on your forehead, there’s something missing in either in the students brain or the teacher doesn’t know how to control the classroom. A learning environment must have a safe and structured atmosphere or you can’t teach…
That being said, I understand problem students and how they will try you @ the drop of a dime. However, if you are going to challenge a “problem child”, then you better be prepared to defend yourself and the consequences of your action (ie: being fired or suspended). I’ve been in this situation once as a high school teacher, but it never got to that point. Partly due to my demeanor and size, and my overall philosophy I live by…Cedric the Entertainer’s theory of “the wish factor.” Long story short, some kids were in the process of getting kicked out of school and they got loose @ the mouth w/ the principal, and I along w/ another male teacher came in to defuse the situation by calmly standing between the individuals 
Furthermore, the teacher’s story seems to be lacking details. Perhaps, it was her demeanor and lack of confidence that she failed to exude when she spoke, but I’m just not believing or I’m missing a key part of the story. At the end of the day, nobody in the class came to her rescue and one student had the audacity to pull out a phone and videotape the beating, so I’m guessing she wasn’t very well liked.
Perhaps it’s the cynic in me, but I’m not sure if all the blame goes with the student, or maybe it does, and I’m just over analyzing the entire incident…
I totally agree with what you stated in your blog. I’m currently an educator of 7th grade students in the Bronx. Pretty rough bunch of kids in my school, but, they are still kids. I understand that some are worse than others, but, if you define that thin line to begin with, they will usually not cross it. Now…we must also take a look at the big picture. It is hmm..April…therefore students should be used to you and your ways. That class even shown for only a few seconds really looked chaotic, but hey, it’s not my classroom and at times, some would probably say the same, depending on what we’re doing at any given point. Points well taken…nice examination of the situation.
By: Miller on April 13, 2008
at 1:54 am
“Perhaps it’s the cynic in me, but I’m not sure if all the blame goes with the student, or maybe it does, and I’m just over analyzing the entire incident…”
You got down to it. It’s the students issue. You may not like what some people say to you on any give day. You need to deal with that; by not hitting people. That teacher was threatened and said she would defend herself. A “trigger word” that set the student off. Off on a violent attack. Any analysis that questions who was at fault: the attacker or the victim…. may need a little less “analysis” and a bit more common sense. No?
By: SK on April 13, 2008
at 7:44 pm
SK, while I agree partially w/ your comment, I just think all sides of the story aren’t being told. I’ve been in rowdy disruptive classrooms before, and this outcome has never happened to me. In large part because I’m a large man. However, it just baffled me as to why nobody helped her and one student started video taping it like it was anticipated. I think about those types of things, which doesn’t mean I don’t have common sense, it’s just means I see certain situations to have gray area instead of just being cut and paste… you know?
@ the end of the day, it’s a sad situation when it comes to this in the classroom.
By: jamessye on April 13, 2008
at 9:42 pm
I do think somethings up but i cannot blame it on the teacher when the student and the rest of the students clearly have a pack mentality in this video. its sad
By: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark on April 15, 2008
at 3:29 pm
You sound very arrogant in assuming a student could never put you in danger. These kids are out of hand, and you said you were a frm teacher, so I would think you’d be more sympathetic!
By: dude on April 15, 2008
at 3:34 pm
Naw, it’s not that I’m arrogant, it’s just I know if somebody runs up on me, I’m going to handle it accordingly by bear hugging them until they calm their nerves;) Some kids are angered for many reasons, and the teacher might not be the problem, but they are a quick source to vent that frustrations. I would never want to hurt a kid, so don’t get me wrong because it’s not a fair fight. I’m 6′0 & 275lbs, so it prevents a lot of physical confrontations, and perhaps that’s where my lack of understanding comes from. I will try to do better though, but there is so much @ stake, which is why I’m less sympathetic to teachers that can’t control their class….
By: jamessye on April 16, 2008
at 4:12 am
40 teachers at this school have put in for a transfer. it’s not just this teacher or this school. it needs to be addressed and blaming a teacher for being attacked somehow makes others feel better about their situation. its like blaming the mugged for being robbed. let’s get real about our public schools. if we can blame the teacher for being attacked then we can blame teachers for the graduation rates and the overall sorry state of affairs. of course it’s more to the story, but it has to do with why our schools are lacking nationally and there’s plenty of blame to go around. i prefer change not blame. having a daughter taught algebra for the entire year is a problem. 60% absenteeism on any given day is a problem. no microscopes or dated books is a problem. poor infrastructure is a problem. students on medication, parole and gang violence is a problem. it’s systemic and endemic to public schools. why, because no new taxes and no one give a damn about what happens to our children.
By: queen mommy on April 16, 2008
at 3:44 pm
Queen Mommy, I don’t think the writer is blaming the teacher for being attacked but for a classroom to get that out of hand is rediculous! Maybe its not the teachers fault and we can do would of could of all day.
By: Say on April 16, 2008
at 4:24 pm
In God’s name, do realise that a kid turning wild finally goes home to the parent who should prepare for worse consequences. Teachers may have their weaknesses just as the kids and their parents but school discipline has alot to do with parenting and student-teacher relations.Tz time these two parties agree on working solutions and not politicians or “experts” (some of whom have failed to control their own kids) teling whats to be done in schools. I have taught outside the US for some time and I know we are creating a terrible problem in school by being just alittle bit too permisive. Assist teachers know how to develop acceptable raport with kids and
Help these kids before its too late.
By: edu on April 17, 2008
at 6:29 pm
I’m an educator and I know students will try you, but if you get no support from the administration then it is impossible to have control over the class. When I did elementary school, if you sent a kid to the office, they would be right back in 10 minutes and cause hell for the rest of the day! Principals are so concerned with AYP that suspension is rarely administered. I’m 6′8″ 270 pounds and this 14 year old 5th grader cursed me. I sent him to the office and what was his punishment?? He got to go to PE all day! The rest of the kids wanted his punishment. I overheard one student saying “We can do what we wanna do. They ain’t gonna suspend us.”
I am doing high school now and it is somewhat better but it all depends on the principal and his/her policies. One thing I noticed in Albany, Georgia is that most of the bad kids drop out as soon as they turn 16 so the upper level classes are not so bad.
I can’t fault the teacher in the story because we do not know the whole story. The kid could have been on meds; bipolar disorder; in a gang… who knows all the details. I just know that this incident will happen more and more frequently in the next few years.
By: dc1128 on April 22, 2008
at 3:33 am
Steven…
(Blogger now has backlinks - very similar to the trackback feature in Movable Type. Many blogs have stopped using trackbacks because…
By: Steven on April 30, 2008
at 10:13 pm
Students in this generation now don’t care anymore. I think that the
administrators should support the teachers more. These kids have no respect for authority. They use so much profanity now, and it’s ridiculous. One day, I might move to another country. In other countries, kids have more respect for authority than in America. This country will be going to hell. Baltimore City has one of the highest dropout rates in the U.S. That student does not have the right to beat up that teacher. Everyday in school, I hear all of the profanity that the students use. One thing about them, they always want to fight each other. This is America’s future.
Students are joining these gangs. That girl may have been a hood rat. And no student tried to break up the fight. Did you guys hear about the student who attacked the journalist at the same school. That is a shame. If I were a teacher and a student lay a hand on me, I would lose my job. Students are not raised properly.
By: Jamaal on May 1, 2008
at 3:44 pm
Jim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court…
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view…
By: Jim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court on May 5, 2008
at 7:07 pm
Michael…
You weave a web of lies! Lies I say….
By: Michael on May 9, 2008
at 7:15 pm