KENT, Wash. -- Teachers in a Washington state school district say they are frustrated with growing violence inside their classrooms, according to KCPQ.
Teachers say elementary school kids are injuring them more and more, and the problem is not just with special needs students.
"Teachers have had concussions and contusions,” Kent Education Association President Christie Padilla said.
“They are very sensitive to authority, these kids have very rough family lives” teacher Dave Bohn said.
Teachers say they're not getting the help they need, and the children are not given proper discipline before returning to their classrooms.
Parents are concerned that their children are witnessing the assaults.
“It can affect these kids mentally and emotionally,” Said one mother, Susan Johnson.
Teachers would like to see the district hire more staff, specifically a behavioral interventionist.
But the teacher’s union says they have seen no progress with talks with the district.
“Teachers are being taken to the hospital; we have medical records,” Padilla said.
The district says they take each and every report of assault, abusive or bullying behavior very seriously.
The union says a recent survey of 477 teachers shows 30% reporting they were physically assaulted by a student in some way.
