Former teachers at Parkland High School in North Carolina have expressed their lack of surprise at a recent viral classroom attack where a student slapped his teacher multiple times and used profanity. The teachers claim that violence has been a longstanding issue in the school and that the incident was not unexpected. One teacher, Kisha Wall-Freeman, mentioned that this behavior has been escalating over time and that students are not disciplined as strictly as they used to be.
Kayleigh Connell, another former teacher from a different school, Triad elementary, talked about her traumatic experience that led her to switch career paths after being physically assaulted by a student. She mentioned spending a significant portion of her day managing behaviors, indicating a serious issue with student conduct in schools. Connell explained that poor behaviors seemed to have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic when students were learning remotely and lacked proper problem-solving skills.
Wall-Freeman mentioned that when she first started teaching at Parkland High in 2012, she did not fear her students, but her perception changed over the course of her career as a teacher. She attributed this change to a shift in disciplinary policies that allowed more behavioral problems to go unchecked. The influence of parents and society was also highlighted, as students were exposed to negative language and behavior from a young age, contributing to their actions in school.
Connell emphasized the importance of parents teaching their children to respect and value their educators. She mentioned that teachers care for their students as much as parents do, and any communication regarding behavioral issues should be seen as a form of support rather than criticism. Both former teachers expressed concern over the lack of accountability and respect shown towards teachers, with students resorting to violence and inappropriate behavior without consequences.
The school district and Superintendent Tricia McManus condemned the student involved in the attack and emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Legal action was taken against the student with several misdemeanor charges, including assault on a government official. The focus has shifted towards supporting the teacher affected by the incident and ensuring that they receive the necessary assistance to navigate through the aftermath of the attack.
Overall, the incident at Parkland High School brings to light larger issues surrounding student behavior, discipline, and the role of parents in shaping their children’s attitudes towards educators. The teacher assault serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by educators and the importance of addressing behavioral issues in schools to create a safe and conducive learning environment for students and teachers alike. Efforts are being made to provide support to the teacher impacted by the attack and to hold the student accountable for their actions.
