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.

"That'll teach you!"

How about teaching someone self-defense moves ... whether they want it or not :-)

In Louisiana, a university student was arrested for simple battery of another student, according to lsureveille.com.

The alleged victim complained to police that an 18-year-old fellow student, of Metairie, subjecting him to a "series of submission holds without his permission".

The suspect aggressor reportedly told police he was trying to teach the young man self-defense and had no intention of hurting him.

Teacher self-defense?

There's probably more to this story than what you can read from a media rapport - it usually is. Even so, it seems like this teacher A. has a serious anger management problem, and B. needs to learn some basic conflict management and control techniques.
Yes a 10-year-old child can absolutely do some harm to an adult, but come on... Do you seriously need a neck restraint technique or a choke hold to control a situation like this? Absolutely not if you know what you're doing.
Another discussion is the possible use of force by teachers. In my book there may be situations where such a need may arise. But again, you really must know what you're doing. And of course, any type of force should always be kept as the very last resort. There are no winners in a situation like this!

Story:

New York -- A 58-year-old substitute gym teacher allegedly put a 10-year-old student in a chokehold when the two got in an argument over a game of dodgeball in New Rochelle, according to wten.com.

Police said the teacher apparently called the student 'a big baby' and a 'crybaby' after they began arguing about a call.

The boy reportedly threw a punch but missed. The teacher then grabbed the boy by the back of the neck and dragged him across the gym floor. Police said the boy was held in a chokehold when he tried to break free.

The student was taken to a hospital with neck and back pain. The substitute teacher claimed he acted in self-defense.

More school violence

Here are three individual cases, each pointing to the huge - and vastly un- or under reported - problem of violence towards teachers.
One of the reports says: "Teachers and campus officials probably shun police reports and prosecution because they don't want to hurt the child or taint the school."

January 25, thedailyitemoflynn.com reported from Lynn, Massachusetts about a high school disciplinary meeting which turned violent.
The 20-year-old sister of a suspended student physically assaulted two teachers and threatened several others, according to the report.

January 28, dailytribune.com had a story from Oak Park, Michigan about a 17-year-old high school student being charged as an adult.
The teenager was reportedly accused of assaulting a female teacher, and the teacher says violence and threats at the school are increasing.

Then on January 29, ajc.com had an article about a female teacher from Lilburn, Georgia.
The experienced teacher was blindsided by a 12-year-old middle school student. "It was a beatdown", the newspaper says.

Lame excuses #2

In our ongoing series "It wasn't me" we have reached the often used 'sudden feeling'... This is commonly accompanied with "I'm sorry", and "I didn't mean to".

Story:
In Malaysia, nst.com.my reports about a 17-year-old who blamed his violence on a "sudden feeling which overcame him".

On April 21, 2007, an 18-year-old female college student was walking along a pedestrian lane in the college when the teenage security guard threw a rock at her from behind, causing her to fall to the ground.

The young man then dragged his victim into a nearby storeroom, undressed her and began to assault her. When the student screamed, he repeatedly hit her on the head with the rock. He tried to rape her, but when he failed to do so, he rolled his clothes to form a rope and tried to strangle her.

After begging him to stop, he set her free and she sought help from a male college friend who took her to a clinic.

A welfare officer read the probation report on the accused. He said the boy regretted his actions as they were a result of a "sudden feeling which overcame him". "He did not intend to hurt the student," the welfare officer said.

'My-key-do' #6

Michigan State University police are investigating an attempted carjacking which occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 5:10 p.m. on Thursday, statenews.com reports.

A 22-year-old female student reported that an unknown male approached her car, grabbed her arm and tried to steal the keys to her car.

The student fought off the suspect and scratched him in the left cheek with her keys. The suspect then fled the scene and the woman drove off.

Targeting

More cases about the hazards of not being aware of your surroundings.

northjersey.com reports:
A 25-year-old suspect in a series of rapes and attempted rapes that occurred in the city's East side has been arrested, Paterson police (New Jersey) said. The man targeted young, petite Latinas. Since November 2006, he attacked at least five victims between the ages of 16 and 34.

According to police he looked for women who were distracted with cell phones and iPods before sneaking up on them from behind. They say he grabbed his victims with a choke hold, dragging them to a yard or an alleyway and then whispered in their ear before assaulting them.

And here's another report from East Lancing, Michigan:
A young woman called police saying she was approached from behind and fondled on a street by the Eli Broad School for Business building just after 11 p.m. Tuesday. She fought back and got loose in order to run away.

Another student told police a man with a tried to pull her jogging pants off while she was walking the river trail late Sunday. She also fought back and ran away.

"Both of these individuals were alone at the time," a MSU police spokesperson said. Both women escaped without injuries, but don't know the attackers. Police warn the women attacked were distracted--one was just finished making a call, the other using an iPod.

"A controlled, mature way"

A controlled, mature way ...?
I do have to ask what an out-of-control, immature way would be. On second thoughts, maybe I wouldn't want to know.
Middle-class paranoia anyone? I mean, here's a woman who will not let her daughter, 18 (!) years old, walk to school - less than a minute away. And based on what, a few unfortunate incidents?

Story:
After a series of reported sexual assaults and an abduction attempt on high school students last month, life in this quiet South Pasadena community is getting back to normal - with modifications.

"Just because we are an affluent, middle-class neighborhood, we're still surrounded by all sorts of things," said Karen Gilbert, who said the community has been responding to the threats "in a controlled, mature way."

Gilbert no longer lets her 18-year-old daughter walk to school, which she said is less than a minute away from their home.

Source

There were red flags

Oregon -- On May 24, 2004, just before allegedly kidnapping, raping and killing a 19-year-old college student, the 40-year-old suspected killer stalked and then approached two other women near Oregon State University. He then tried to lure them into his van, prosecutors say. He intended to rape and kill them, too, a Benton County District Attorney said.

The man tried to coax the women, both OSU students at the time, close to the van. But the women, who were alone, sensed trouble.

"There were red flags," the District Attorney said. "He tried to engage them with conversation and conduct that clearly establishes that he is trying to lure them into the van, but he just can't get within striking distance."

The victim was last seen about 10 a.m. May 24, 2004, cleaning lampposts in the parking lot of apartments managed by her brother-in-law near the Corvallis campus. Police and thousands of friends and strangers searched unsuccessfully for her for two weeks. Her body has not been found.

Source

Self-defense? Naturally ...

One single punch can be devastating ...
And this young punk claiming self-defense? How sad - how pathetic.

Story:
UK -- A 26-year-old man was celebrating a friend's birthday in Newcastle city centre and he and his companions began playfully throwing some takeaway chips at each other as they walked to catch a taxi home.

One of the chips hit a woman walking near the group, and her 19-year-old boyfriend reacted angrily, shouting at them in an accusing way.The 26-year-old walked over saying "sorry, mate" and with his hands outstretched to apologise for the incident.

Seconds later, it is alleged, the aggressor punched him in the face, causing the victim to fall "like a piece of wood" straight back onto a set of railings outside a sandwich shop. Despite paramedics arriving minutes later and taking him to hospital, the Newcastle University student died of massive head injuries.

The jury was told that the 19-year-old assailant, had just six weeks earlier been involved in a similar attack when he punched a man in a taxi queue - breaking his jaw.

The accused denies manslaughter. The court heard he is likely to say he hit out in self-defense.

Source

Hazards at work, 42

Jamaica -- Three male students allegedly attempted to rape a female teacher at a Kingston high School yesterday.

A source said the teacher was taking a Grade 10 class in a building to the back of the school, called 'the temple', when the boys - the only ones who had turned up for the class - reportedly started saying things which made the teacher feel uncomfortable.

The teacher reportedly set the afternoon's work on the board and started to leave, but was allegedly blocked by the boys.

"One of them held her hands behind her and another held her around her waist, she literally had to fight her way from them," the source said, adding that the teacher was so distraught, she had been crying all afternoon.

Source

Hazards at work, 41

And of course any teacher who lay hands on these "poor kids" would find themselves in trouble, right?

Story:
Yet another teacher was assaulted at violence-plagued West Philadelphia High School - the seventh in two weeks and at least the 18th this school year.

Around 11 a.m., a trash fire was set in an unoccupied classroom, one in a series of small blazes set by students in protest of the removal of the principal this week.

Students were evacuated and when one teacher tried to tell students to get off a car, a ninth-grade girl punched him in the jaw, police said. Another girl and a boy also tried to hit the 53-year-old teacher, a long-term substitute.

Source

"Poor kid"

Sweden -- How dare these pesky teachers harass a "poor kid" like this. Since the kids are allowed to do exactly as they please at home, they sure can't expect to do less at school, right?

So, we must consider if this 45-year-old teacher had it coming when he told a 19-year-old student to remove his caps in class.

The student probably had a bad hair day, so he assaulted the nagging teacher, trying to choke him (probably just trying to get him to "shut the f*** up").

The poor, helpless, freezing kid - being shown so little respect - was arrested by police.

Seriously, how are these youngsters brought up at home?

Not paying attention

Illinois -- A 19-year-old Millikin University student fought off a would-be robber about 7:45 p.m. Friday.

The young woman told police she was walking from her apartment to a friend's apartment, Decatur police said.

"She was trying to text message a friend on her cell phone and wasn't paying a lot of attention to her surroundings," a police spokesman said. "A man came up behind her and grabbed her purse. She tried to run but the assailant grabbed the front of her shirt."

The woman punched her assailant in the upper body and ran back to her apartment where she called university security personnel. The would-be robber left empty-handed.

Source

Hazards at work, 32

Story 1:
A 15-year-old girl punched her teacher 10 times in the face and chest Tuesday morning after the teacher tried to take her cell phone away, police and MPS officials said.

A stricter ban on cell phones went into effect last month in Milwaukee Public Schools after several students used their phones to call outsiders to participate in fights.

Police said the student at Fritsche Middle School's LEAP program was talking on the phone during class when the teacher, a 54-year-old female, tried to confiscate it.

She wound up with a "chipped tooth and pain and redness in the face," an MPS spokeswoman said.

---

Story 2:
Another Philadelphia schoolteacher has been the victim of a vicious attack by students.
Joseph Smith, a teacher at the Deburgos School in North Philadelphia, said on Thursday he was attacked by a 14-year-old girl.

"Our kids have no belief and respect, no respect. There's no respect for authority," Smith said.

He was attacked after he said a 14-year-old female student grabbed a classroom phone to make prank calls and refused to stop. Smith said the girl hit him with the telephone and then hit him again with a dictionary, before more students joined in on the attack.

The attack comes a week after a Germantown High School teacher had his neck broken allegedly by two students.

Another teacher told NBC 10 News that his jaw was broken by a student at West Philadelphia High School in November.

The beatings come as a new report on violence in Philadelphia schools is released.

Source 1
Source 2

"Inexplicable instinct"

One of the first rules of self-defense: Always trust your instincts!
It goes without saying that taking a bogus cab/taxi is something that should be avoided at all costs. Even if a car looks like a taxi, does not guarantee it to be a legitimate taxi!

Source:
UK -- The incident happened when young student picked up what she thought was a cab at Lynn Bus Station at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 5.

She thought everything was OK but an inexplicable instinct warned her not to give the driver her full address.

The driver was initially friendly and chatty but after she handed over payment at her destination, he pulled off again and would not stop.

The quick-thinking 17-year-old leapt from the vehicle when the driver reduced his speed just a few streets from where she had originally asked to be dropped off.

Source

A scuffle

Pennsylvania -- Tuesday, two male York College students - who also happened to be on the wrestling team - got into a scuffle with three teenage boys. The two students were walking back to campus from the Tom's Exxon about 10:45 p.m. when the teens tried to rob them, Lehman said.

"In this case, they jumped the wrong two kids," he said. "They (the students) got some bumps and bruises, but they defended themselves pretty well," to the point that the three teens ran away.

Source

GHB

Alaska -- A female student was slipped a predatory drug at the UAF Pub and then sexually assaulted last month.

The student reported the incident on September 14 to the university police, who believe that the drug was administered while the victim was at the campus bar.

A sexual assault kit and a blood test for drugs in her system found evidence of GHB and rape, police said.

GHB, according to the RAINN Web site, is most commonly found in the form of a clear, odorless liquid. It can also be white powder.

In 2000, the DEA, along with state and local law enforcement agencies, seized 17 GHB laboratories in the United States, 10 of which were located in California, according to the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau (DTCVB) Web site.

Also according to the DTCVB, in 1999, drug facilitated sexual assault cases increased to nearly 23 percent of all sexual assault cases. Females made up 97 percent of the victims, the bureau says.

Source

Very, very scary

Yes, the Austrian story about the kidnapping and escape of Natascha Kampusch is both fascinating and to some extent scary.
Now there are even rumors that her mother sold her to the guy!
But come on ... Girls becoming scared to go out after dark? It seems like all of a sudden it has become so much more dangerous to move around?
It could be wise some times to stop and reflect for a couple of minutes before running wild with a "media emotion". Like the simple fact that this tragic incident happened years ago.
What is "very, very scary" is the way that people let media influence their thoughts and behaviors, and how we so easily stop being rational about real and perceived dangers.

Story:
The dramatic escape of an 18-year-old Austrian girl after being held in an underground cell for eight years has had a profound impact in this otherwise safe city with many of its citizens, including Indians, scared to go out after dark.

Indians, particularly young girls, say the shocking tale that hogged international headlines earlier this month has scared them so much that many dare not go out of the house after dusk.

"After watching television reports on the Kampusch story, I am really scared to get out of the house. It is very, very scary," said Jasmin Perumadan, a business administration student at Vienna University.

Source

Violent students

A teacher friend of mine says it is no wonder that a lot of his colleagues get into trouble.
In his opinion many of them - most of them female teachers unforunately - has no natural authority at all, and as such little or no control over the teaching environment.

Story:
Australia -- Teachers have been karate-kicked, punched, headbutted, sprayed with acid (!) and attacked with weapons in a disturbing range of assaults by violent students in NSW public schools.

There are more than 60 attacks on teachers in the past six months alone - including several in their own homes.

The growing threat to teacher safety has led to State Government plans for the most dangerous students to be sent home for tuition in addition to the option of placement in behaviour schools.

The crackdown on anti-teacher violence follows a 16-year-old student from Randwick Boys High School appearing in Bidura Children's Court for allegedly choking a female teacher on June 19.

Source