Data: Student attacks on educators on the rise

My friend Rick* is a campus supervisor at a local high school. He patrols his side of campus on a golf cart. A group of boys were out of class and hanging out near a deserted area of the school. When Rick drove up, one of the boys tried to wave him away and used a profanity and racial slur. Rick immediately got off his cart and confronted the group.

“I’m sorry, what did you say? What did you call me?” he asked the student. The boy tried to look defiant, but his bravado withered as Rick stood over him. The other boys stood quiet, waiting to see what would happen. Rick asked the student again to repeat what he had said. This time the student stepped back, waved his arm at Rick and clicked his tongue.

“Yo, whatever man. Whatever bro,” he mumbled, turning away. His friends shoved their hands in their pockets and followed. Rick watched the group shuffle down the hallway toward their classrooms.

This kind of defiance is becoming increasingly commonplace in our schools, as we see in today’s Recruitment & Retention story. It’s sickening. Teachers and principals are getting taunted, sworn at, pushed, shoved and even punched by their own students. What used to be rare is now becoming frequent.

“That’s upsetting, Kanoe, but how is this an HR/workforce topic?”

Because schools are workplaces and educators are fed up with the disrespect and violence and lack of support in situations they’re confronting daily. As a result, many are leaving -- or considering leaving -- the profession. And we don’t have more coming in to take their spots. Schools of education across the country note a drastic drop in enrollment.

Employers, this will absolutely become an issue for you. Employees who have children may see new schedules at their schools, which will affect their work hours. Workers whose children are suspended or disciplined for their behavior may have to take time off work. Children who have been traumatized by school incidents may need to do virtual school -- and their parents, who work for you, will be affected by this. So will you, if that parent needs to work from home or take a leave of absence.

“So what are you saying, Kanoe?”

First, support educators. If you know a teacher or a principal or school administrator, take the time to thank them for their work. It may seem a small thing, but it’s not. Many educators today don’t feel their communities support them. Show them that you do.

Second, work with the parents in your organization. Avoid punishing them for situations they can’t control, such as bus routes or school schedules that change and throw off a parent’s routine.

And know that good parents can have a kid go off the rails. If you have a good employee whose child seems to be pushing the disciplinary envelope, don’t judge. That parent is already at his or her wit’s end, trying to figure out a way to end the drama. Exercising compassion and understanding can go a long way with that worker.

How can I serve you better with this brief? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.

*Named changed to preserve subject's privacy.