MSTA Membership 2003-04

Dealing with Dangerous Students

  Education employees are facing more and more safety issues in the schools. You need to know your rights, responsibilities, and ways to protect yourself and your and students. For the purposes of this information, “dangerous students” are defined as those who cause serious harm to another person, to themselves, or to their surroundings. Let’s get right down to it:

Behaviorally dangerous students

   Protect yourself before an incident occurs:

   Know your school policy and procedures.

   Know or develop a school-wide crisis plan.

   Prepare yourself for crisis events.

Create a Crisis Plan

Have a working system of communications using tools such as the intercom or a code word with another teacher or school employee who works near you. Develop your own safety net that works for you. Regularly review and update your plan to meet the needs of the current population.

   Classroom teachers should develop, post, and disseminate a well-defined discipline policy for their classrooms to parents and students. Note: Send the policy home for signature by a parent/caregiver.

   When a student’s behavior becomes threatening, school employees are advised to:

1.      Notify another adult for help, for example: call on the intercom or send another student for help.

2.      Isolate the student, but keep them visible. This may mean you have to remove all other students from the area.

3.      DO NOT TOUCH THE STUDENT UNLESS THE STUDENT IS A DANGER TO SELF, OTHERS, OR PROPERTY.

4.      Have an administrator or designee remove the student to a secure area. It is the responsibility of the administrator or designee to notify parents or guardians and appropriate authorities regarding the incident and district policy and to arrange a meeting to coordinate a plan for the reintegration of the student into school and/or the classroom.

5.      If you receive an injury, seek medical help and file for Workers' Compensation immediately. Consult your local about assault leave.

6.      Review your district discipline policy.

7.      Document the incident and the sequence of events. KEEP COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTS. Identify all witnesses. Identify the number of students present. Identify the student sent to get an administrator/designee. Document all action taken by you

8.      Notify your local president, Peter Singleton and JC Parker, your local UniServ director.  (Click here to go to Contacts Page.)

9.      Participate in developing a plan of action for reintegration, per the School Order and Discipline Act, of the student into school: Involve parent/guardian, student, administrator, specialists, and all staff working with student, including librarian, PE teacher, nurse, teacher aide, etc.