Unruly students

Georgia -- So, you're a teacher for special needs children and you're having a couple of unruly students in your class.

Two disruptive, teenage students refuse to return to their seats - what do you do? That's simple, you just pepper spray them.

At least that ways the solution one female Bibb County teacher used recently in her classroom, according to 41nbc.com.

This really makes me wonder if she was only having a permanent brain meltdown or simply had lost it temporarily.

At least it goes to show that a lot of teachers unfortunately don't have the skills or training needed to control potential violent conflicts and other similar problems at school.

Perfect conflict management

This is quite simply an amazing example of practical de-escalation and conflict management. A little absurd, yes (with group hug and stuff ...).
Do yourself a favor, and read the whole story - it's actually both funny, weird and educational all at the same time :-)

Story:
Washington DC Police on Capitol Hill are baffled by an attempted robbery that began with a handgun put to the head of a teenager and ended in a group hug.

It started about midnight on June 16 when a group of friends was finishing a dinner of marinated steaks and jumbo shrimp on the back patio of a DC home. That's when a hooded man slid through an open gate and pointed a handgun at the head of a 14-year-old girl.

"Give me your money, or I'll start shooting," he said, according to D.C. police and witnesses.
Everyone froze, including the girl's parents. Then one guest spoke.

"We were just finishing dinner," Cristina "Cha Cha" Rowan, 43, told the man. "Why don't you have a glass of wine with us?"

The intruder had a sip of their Chateau Malescot St-Exupery and said, "Damn, that's good wine."

Source

'That'll teacher'

There are lots of conflicts and violence directed at teachers, and still very few, unfortunately learn how to protect themselves.
Do they need to learn self-defense? Absolutely not - there are conflict management skills involving positioning, zoning, evasion, distancing, defusing, distracting, pacing etc. that can be learned - and used - by anyone!
This is not by any means an attempt to blame this teacher for being attacked - the perpetrator is always to blame for his/her actions!

Story:
A 16-year-old high school student has been suspended and charged with assault after allegedly choking his female teacher in a classroom attack. Police have also taken out an interim apprehended violence order against the student on the 24-year-old teacher's behalf.

The alleged incident occurred shortly after the school bell rang at 3 p.m. on Monday at a high school in Sydney, known for its excellence in mathematics.

It is understood it will be alleged the male student tried to throttle the teacher, but police yesterday would not reveal what led to the alleged assault.

Source

Bullying

Here are 12 ways to stop or hinder bullying.
And you know what - it works! Kids really need to know how to defend themselves, but not necessarily in the physical sense. It can include trickery, deflection, defusion and other methods of conflict management.

Story:
Pete Nappier was bullied when he was a young kid. It was part of his inspiration to start the Safety and Awareness Institute in Hickory and Lincolnton.

Nappier teaches kids, from elementary to high school, 12 ways to deal with bullies.

"The program hits every aspect," Nappier said. "The bully only wants power. So we teach to give the bully respect. It's a pretty in-depth curriculum."

Across the county, schools say they see an increase in such problems.

Source

Risky business

Working with conflict and violent behavior management, I can assure you that physical violence, threats, intimidation and harassment at work is a huge problem in some occupations.
Many times these are problems that goes on without proper reports being filed.
It also should be noted that there are few that has proper training to deal with these sorts of negative behaviors and potential harmful occurrences.

These occupations include nurses, doctors, prison personnel, clergymen (!), teachers, police, doormen/bouncers, sales reps, agents, parking attendants, security personnel, social security workers, as well as many others.

This story about real estate agents should give you an idea about the potential dangers some people are facing.