From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: American Federation of Teachers on School Violence
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 23:24:35 GMT

Here is a press release from the American Federation of Teachers
 
 American Federation of Teachers to Offer Resolution to Combat
School Violence
 To: National Desk, Education Writer
 Contact: Janet Bass of the American Federation of Teachers,
          202-879-4554
 
   PITTSBURGH, Aug. 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Federation of
Teachers approved a resolution today designed to help stem the tide
of school violence and classroom discipline problems.
   "Students have the absolute right to learn and teachers have the
absolute right to teach in an environment where there are no
knifings, shootings, muggings, unruly students or other assaults on
the educational experience," said Sandra Feldman, president of the
United Federation of Teachers, AFT's New York City local union.
   The resolution calls on the AFT to identify the extent and nature
of school violence and to work to combat the problem by supporting
innovative solutions, such as the creation of alternative sites for
disruptive or dangerous students.
   According to a 1991 Department of Education survey of teachers
nationwide, 37 percent of urban teachers, 27 percent of urban-fringe
teachers, 25 percent of teachers in towns and 18 percent of rural
teachers reported that physical conflicts among students were a
moderate or serious problem.
   The AFT resolution calls for:
   * Establishing a "crisis network clearinghouse" at the AFT
headquarters to collect and distribute successful methods of dealing
with school security, safety and discipline.
   * Supporting the creation of alternative sites and education for
persistently disruptive or dangerous students.
   * Urging Congress to provide federal assistance to school
districts to combat school crime and violence.
   * Continuing to support the Brady Bill and/or other stringent
federal measures against the sale of and easy access to handguns and
semi-automatic weapons.
   * Supporting the concept of a code of behavior for students and
having teachers, administrators -- and parents, if possible --
conscientiously support and implement the code.
   * Promoting the development of anti-violence curricula and
non-traditional te aching strategies to counter violence in schools
and the community.
   * Organizing violence-prevention training for school staff and
support systems for victims of school violence.
   The resolution also calls for the AFT to continue to support
increased federal funding to help financially strapped areas deal
with overcrowded and decaying schools and oversized classes, factors
that contribute to school violence.
   In addition, the AFT will continue its efforts to reform education
and restructure schools so students can reach world-class levels of
educational achievement.
   According to a 1991 Justice Department report, 9 percent of
students ages 12 to 19 were crime victims in or around their school,
and 16 percent of students surveyed claimed a student had attacked
or threatened a teacher at their school.
   While there are thousands of schools where students and teachers
are not confronted with violence, the AFT is committed to exercising
its leadership to ensure that education and violence no longer
co-exist at the other schools, Feldman said.
   The AFT represents 790,000 teachers, professors, paraprofessionals
and school-related personnel, nurses and health care workers, state
and municipal employees.
 -30-

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