In Philadelphia, Tonia Brown is accused of teaching violence in her classroom. In a cell phone video obtained by Action News, two Martha Washington Elementary students are seen trading punches. Fellow classmates sit on their desks and cheer. The video shows Tonia Brown, the teacher, standing back and watching the two students exchanging punches, she waits awhile before she finally steps in to break it up. Brown has been removed from her special education classroom. Action News interviewed one of the 12 year old students who was involved in the fight and he claims that fighting is a regular thing in that classroom. "When the kids fight, they're allowed to fight," he said. "The kids moved their desks back and they were cheering us to keep fighting." Attorney Jill Fischer said according to her clients, "there were a number of instances where these fights were instigated by the teacher." Action News contacted the State Department of Education, trying to learn more about Tonia Brown's qualification. A spokesperson tells Action News Brown is not even certified to be a teacher.
This story was shocking to me! If you watch the video they highlight the teacher just standing in the background watching the kids fight. This just makes me sick to think that a teacher would allow such violent acts to happen in her classroom, and most of all do nothing about it!! When she was questioned about the case, she claimed that the kids were "role playing." What are these elementary children suppose to think when they have an adult role model telling them it's acceptable to fight? I think it is also questionable that the teacher was hired and wasn't even qualified for the position; that says a lot about this school district.
To view the story go to: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6114539
2 comments:
This news story reminds me of the Tough Guise video. It feels like the teacher is condoning "typical" male behavior. What she downplays as "role playing" is in reality young males reinforcing the behavior that they have learned is normal male behavior-violence is therefore an appropriate way of displaying masculinity. Perhaps this is also why the teacher allows the behavior to happen; "boys will be boys."
I don't even understand how an adult could allow something like this to go on, especially in an elementary classroom. The fact that she even initiated some of the fights is just disturbing. This woman's teaching license should be revoked immediately and some possible therapy need to be involved as well. Get a clue!
Post a Comment