Broom-swinging teacher says she won't return to class until changes made
The Pershing High School teacher fired for using a broom to break up a vicious fight said she will not return to the classroom until a new zero violence tolerance policy is put in place by the district to better protect teachers and students.
“If I took my job back without asking for the positive changes that this opportunity has afforded, this kind of incident could happen again,” Tiffani Eaton said at a Wednesday press conference. “… And for certain I am not pleased with what took place, but we need to make sure this doesn’t happen again and simply reinstating the job isn’t going to solve the problem.”
Eaton said she plans to use this moment to call on the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan to put in place a new policy that she believes will keep teachers and students safe in the classroom.
“At present, we have the platform to request real changes in our schools and to hold our education leaders accountable,” Eaton said. “They must back up teachers who do the right thing in the right moment. The system must provide security for the students, security that can arrive on time. And they must have a clear and defining policy for its teachers, myself included, as to what we are supposed to do in those moments.”
full: http://www.freep.com/article/20140514/NEWS05/305140176
