Today I got to break up my first fight after school. I was in my classroom when a kid in the doorway casually noted that a fight was happening outside. I *ran*. When I got to the fight I jumped on top of the two boys (who were each significantly bigger than me) and did my best to wrest them apart. I didn’t succeed. It took two much bigger men to do it, but I prevented at least a few punches. I didn’t even know the kids. There was another female teacher there, she was standing 4-5 feet away yelling, “Stop.” Not terribly effective.
I took quite a few punches. My left arm hurts. Both wrists are sore and my left elbow is kind of twingy. Ow.
It was hella cool.
I still can sorta feel the adrenaline. 🙂
I was firmly admonished to *never* do that again. They said to let the boys beat one another to a pulp because, “They aren’t worth the effort.” I have mixed feelings about that assessment. I will jump in again. I could tell that one of the boys was defending himself, not trying to be aggressive. That kid deserved to have someone pulling the other guy off of him. Yeah, my arm hurts and it may hurt for a few days, but that kid was taking a serious beating and if I kept even one of those punches from landing it is worth it.
And now to toss the last minute stuff together so we can run off to the airport. Texas, here I come. (This is scarier than the fight.)
You are my new hero.
I was told not to get involved for legal reasons–the school was more likely to be sued if a teacher was physically involved and somebody was injured (physically emotionally or socially) than if it was just two students.
Which is the same color of bullshit, just a slightly different flavor.
My thoughts were similar. The school doesn’t want to be liable for a teacher’s involvement or a teacher’s workplace injuries for being anywhere near a student fight.
I applaud your commitment to your students, and I hope you’ll be careful of your physical wellbeing.
I’ll do my best to not get hurt. 🙂 Next time: ditching the glasses.
“It was hella cool. “
Lol. You are adorable.
The fact that this matters to you makes you a wonderful teacher and a rocking human being.
I’m just so proud to know you.
I applaud your integrity.
My brother is a high school teacher in an inner city school in NJ. He is about 6’3″ and about 260lb – not a small guy.
Last year he got lunchroom duty (this is where a lot of the fights happen) and of course a fight occurs and he goes to break it up like yourself. Instead of getting hit in the arm he got hit in the face and then toss the kid onto a lunchroom table. The kid realized what he did and was apologic as was my brother but the ramifications of his actions could of cost him the job he loves.
I dont think you should let the kids beat each other up – you did the right thing. Hope you had a great flight.
Genine
The flight was remarkably easy. 🙂