Safety in our Schools

While reflecting on recent events in Baltimore City Public Schools, I am forced to ask the question, are teachers safe in the classroom? After receiving national news coverage about the teacher beating at Reginal F. Lewis High School, a more recent event at Calverton Elementary/Middle has caused this teacher to wonder how safe his fellow colleagues are while they are on the job. A staff member at Calverton was working extra hours at the West Baltimore School last Sunday afternoon when two 13-year old boys broke into the building and one tried to rape her. This news caused alarm and discussion among my colleagues at my school. The question, came up, “are we safe in our school”? I began to reflect on my position about this topic. I feel as though I am safe in my school, but stories like this cause one to reflect on and rethink their opinion. Teachers and Staff are at schools to help educate and mold the minds of young individuals, and stories like this are tragic and bring a negative light to our education system. My condolences go out to both individuals involved in these events, and I wonder if something could have been done by the system to ensure teacher and staff safety to a greater degree. Is more school police and hall monitors the answer, after talking with several teachers in the system, some of the teachers have no way to get a hold of school police if something happens in their classroom. I feel as though any professional or worker should be safe in their work environment, steps needs to be taken to ensure teacher and staff safety at our school in Baltimore City. I do not have a solution to the problem, but feel as though administration, staff, teachers, and North Avenue have to come together to make sure nothing like this happens again.