Philipsburg:--- The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union Claire Elshot told reporters that the union is looking into having a plan of action in place to tackle the physical abuse and profanity that is used by students at certain primary schools. Elshot said that the WITU is very much concerned because teachers are now being slapped while some students are using profanity at teachers and so far nothing has been done to aid or protect teachers. One of the things the union is planning to do is hold a march in order to create awareness for parents and those responsible for public education. Elshot said on Tuesday at the WICLU press briefing that she met with several teachers of one particular school where the abuse is taking place. She said in some cases the teachers are being sent home while the students who attack their teachers are allowed to stay in school because according to the school there are laws that protect the rights of the child and compulsory education. On several occasions the teachers had to take the brunt of the problem because some of them were removed from the classroom or from the school environment.
Elshot said that the teachers contacted her over the weekend and called for a meeting which took place on Monday. During that meeting she was informed that the threats and abuse is now alarming. She said the school manager has refused to take action because according to the teachers if the students that are attacking and abusing teachers are corrected then the students will become more aggressive towards the teachers. "According to the teachers, students that are five years old are already threatening their teachers and are using profanity at their teachers and inside the classroom." Elshot said she intends to request a meeting with the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs and other stakeholders to further discuss the matter. Elshot said that teachers also have rights and one of the most important rights is for teachers to be able to teach in a safe environment.
