We Need Moral Clarity About Teacher Safety
In this video, Dr. Justin Baeder calls for moral clarity on the issue of teacher safety, using the example of a pregnant teacher being hit by a student.
Key Takeaways
- This should not be controversial - A pregnant teacher being struck by a student should provoke universal outrage and immediate action
- Moral clarity means clear standards - Violence against educators is wrong, full stop, regardless of the student's circumstances
- Protect teachers - Schools that don't take immediate, decisive action when teachers are assaulted have lost their moral compass
Transcript
I think we've got to have moral clarity around teacher safety.
And I'm not sure if you saw this video from Scottish media where the Minister for Education refused to say clearly that a student should be excluded from school for punching a pregnant teacher in the stomach.
And, like, if we can't be clear on that kind of thing, like, I think this goes back to, like, the college presidents at the, you know, the congressional hearing where they refused to condemn a terrorist attack in clear terms.
And there's all this talk about context.
I think we have to be very, very clear.
that teacher safety is a priority.
Because teachers are not hearing that.
They're not feeling that.
They're not feeling that their safety is a priority.
And when political leaders refuse to back them and say, oh, it depends on context, or it's not my job to make that kind of decision, or oh, it's a hypothetical.
Regardless of whether it's a hypothetical or a specific situation, We have got to have moral clarity that teacher safety matters.
There is no situation in which a pregnant teacher should be hit in the stomach by a student and then have to go to work every day and see that student.
Let me know what you think.