(photo from CinemaRetro)Grabbing my phone, I quickly punch in the five digits I need to call the office to send a campus supervisor down our way. As a five foot tall woman, the one thing I do not do is get into the middle of a fight. However, I do head down to the field to try to get those who enjoy egging fights on to leave the area. After about five minutes, our principal shows up. By this time, the crowd was dispersing because two of my colleagues
The girls are escorted to the office, my colleagues and I return to our classes, then I head back out to take copies that I need for tomorrow. That is when another colleague informs me that on Monday there had been another fight in the field, which she had tried to break up, almost resulting in personal injury to herself. She emphatically states that she is no longer willing to break up anymore fights. This is something that I fully understand and support. Frankly, I'm not willing to get hurt, putting me at risk of not being able to work. My job provides the health benefits for my family. It's not something I'm willing to risk.
As I head up to the copy room, I run into my principal. He asks me about the fight, so I tell him my observations. I then relay to him the concern we have with the increasing amount of fights that are occurring in the field. The frequency of fights has increased because students know that it's the only place where there are no campus supervisors and/or administrators. All of these people are up at the front of the school where the principal informs me "that's where they are needed." Get this, we have four campus supervisors and three administrators, all of whom carry walkie-talkies, so they can get rapid reinforcements if needed and he needs them in front
The 6th grade teachers have decided that we will no longer try to break up fights in that area. We have decided that when we see a huge swarm of students heading in that direction our response will be to simply call the office to let them know what's going on. Believe me when I say that this has not been an easy decision, but we as a group of teachers, honestly feel that we are not getting the support we need from those in charge.
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10 comments:
Yikes! Your admins are responsible for setting up supervision, especially for this clearly known problem area! And you teacher folks are right to inform them to the best of your ability, and stay out of harm's way yourselves.r
I think this is the right decision. You aren't paid to be a policeman.
i don't break up fights either. After AP was "knocked out," and the district refused to pay her medical bills; I had some serious concerns. Now, I just stay away and punch the button to call the office. OOOhh, you just reminded me of good fight story.
The other day, a girl was being jumped by to other girls. As soon as she was able to break free, she ran, screaming like bloody murder down the hall. Like one of the screams from a horror movie. Every teacher stepped into the hallway and she was rescued. Smart, Smart girl! however, another student said as a result she'll prob be jumped after school in the neighborhood for doing that :(
We have basically the same problem at our school. We have close to 800 students with 1 principal and 1 AP. We also have a RO. That's it. We have 1 to 5 fights a week. The majority of the staff refuses to break up fights because (1) we don't want to get hurt and (2) we are concern about a law suit from one of the students we would have to use force to subdue. Yes, parents will sue you for touching their child to break up the fight they are in.
Sounds like the right approach to me. Maybe instead of calling the office someone my "misdial" and call the local news instead. Somehow I think that would bring out the supervisors more often.
I work in a high school, and yes there are fights. I worry about the upcoming cuts because it will reduce our already small supervision staff. I have only worked 3-1/2 years and fortunately I have very limited fight exposure. I usually walk up to the fight after some other teacher/administrator has broken it up. There was only ONCE I got between 2 teen boys (bigger than me) yelling at each other just WANTING TO FIGHT, I learned something there.
I learned that as much as I Love my job, I will not put myself in that kind of danger, I love my family more and I am being unfair to my family to do that.
I learned that no matter what, these are not my children.
I learned that some of my students, and their parents, have DIFFERENT IDEAS on fighting and violence.
As a future teacher this was very enlightening. Wow.
We do not get paid for combat pay as far as I'm concerned.
I teach at an urban high school in MA. We've been seeing more fights in and out of our building as well. The guidance counselors seem to think that some of it may be related to the economy. Due to the bad economy, a lot of our kids are being impacted at home and seem to be taking it out at school. This year, I have at least five homeless students (those are the ones we are aware of).
You and your colleagues are doing the right thing. Don't risk your life because the administration can't do their job.
I'm with you on this one. My students have asked me what I'd do if a fight broke out, and I tell them, I'd call the police/office and stay the heck out of the way!
Although, if kids are talking a bunch of smack and I get the feeling that they WANT to be stopped, I'll step in.
As one middle school teacher to another, GOOD FOR YOU! Until you stop doing their jobs, they won't step up and do what's clearly stated on their own job descriptions. I used to break up fights all the time. No more. Not me.
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