Students are being exposed to a cycle of abuse within their classrooms. This cycle of abuse is detrimental to students physical, mental, and academic achievement. Students are allowe to remain or return to classrooms after physically assaulting teachers, destroying property, or verbally berating staff members. The student is asked if they are “ready to return” once they have calmed down. This falls in line with the “cycle of abuse”. The other students in the classroom are suffering much in the same way as if they were witnessing abuse within their home. They see teachers walk on egg shells to prevent tension from escalating with the aggressive child. Then the child acts out and often hits the teacher, throws furniture, or attacks peers. The student is then removed. The student typically returns in 15 minutes to an hour after the incident to say they are sorry. The class then experiences a brief honeymoon period with the student. Then the cycle repeats. Other students witness this behavior and are not given any outlets to cope with what they are witnessing. Parents are not informed about the trauma their students are exposed within the confines of the school. Classmates are told to embrace and accept the perpetrator. If this child has a label showing some sort of special need, then that trumps the safety of the rest of the students.
There needs to be a return to school handbook policies regarding student behavior. If students hit teachers, staff, or peers they should immediately be removed. Teachers should not be required to have calm down corners or host restorative circles. Schools are not mental health facilities.
Students have the right to learn in a safe environment. Teachers are not therapists an do not deserve to be assaulted. We must stop this cycle by returning to consequences for students. After each incident, parents should be required to meet with the teacher, in person. We need to stop exposing general ed students to violent students in the name of inclusion. IDEA and LRE should not have greater importance than the safety and security of teachers and students.