Teachers Share Disturbing Classroom Experiences
Chloe Laughlin, a kindergarten teacher with nearly a decade of experience, shared harrowing stories of her time in the classroom while testifying before state lawmakers. During her testimony, Laughlin recounted incidents of student violence On Rising Behavior Issues in Elementary Schools, including shielding other children from flying objects and being bitten so severely that she bled. Her colleague, Stephanie Haynes, principal of Bridgeview Schools in South Charleston, detailed a similar struggle, highlighting a first-grader with a six-page record of disruptive behaviors. “She has the teacher threatening to quit, a one-on-one aide, and has destroyed classrooms and my office,” Haynes revealed.
Laughlin confessed to feeling unprepared in her early years of teaching, often operating in “survival mode.” Together with other educators, she painted a grim picture of the behavioral challenges plaguing elementary schools, capturing the attention of lawmakers. “This is horrific,” remarked Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh. “It’s a tragedy.”
Lawmakers and Educators Seek Solutions FOR Rising Behavior Issues in Elementary Schools
During the session, educators emphasized the need for immediate interventions and structural reforms. Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, chair of the Senate Education Committee and an elementary schools teacher herself, sympathized with the challenges described. Grady argued that teachers should have the discretion to remove students when the safety of others is at risk. “The problem is teachers are expected to deal with behaviors that we shouldn’t be expected to,” she said.
The educators advocated for the creation of alternative learning facilities, similar to those used in middle and high schools, as a means to provide tailored interventions for disruptive students. However, funding and legal ambiguities present significant obstacles to implementing such measures. Del. Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, a public school teacher, echoed the need for urgent action, citing his personal decision to move his child to a private school due to similar behavioral challenges.
Calls for Legislative Action
The teachers and principals underscored the need for swift, actionable solutions to protect the majority of students and ensure a conducive learning environment. Laughlin emphasized, “The immediate removal [of disruptive students] is necessary. It’s not a long-term fix, but it’s crucial for the safety and education of the other 98% of our students.”
Following the session, lawmakers and educators engaged in discussions on potential legislative changes for the upcoming session. With the state Legislature’s regular session set to begin in February—delayed due to the inauguration of a new governor—educators remain hopeful that their voices will lead to actionable reforms. As the discussion moves forward, the focus remains on balancing immediate interventions with long-term strategies to address behavioral issues in elementary schools
