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June 7, 2024More reports of the post-pandemic increase in student misbehavior and violence in New Jersey schools — this time at the Jersey Shore. This long-standing problem has disrupted schools and even threatened teachers. Yet the state’s largest teachers union, the NJEA, is silent on this issue, which directly and negatively impacts teachers. The NJEA knows how to address this problem because it launched its “10 steps to reduce violence” campaign when confronted with a similar wave of student misbehavior and violence in 2010. Where is the NJEA on this important issue now?
According to the Asbury Park Press, the New Jersey Department of Education reported:
“At the Jersey Shore, incidents of violence have … increased since before the pandemic. Police calls related to violence were up 14% across schools in both Monmouth and Ocean counties since 2019, from 348 to 397, according to state data.”
And it’s not just at the Jersey Shore, it’s across the state:
“Across New Jersey, the schools with the highest numbers of police calls for violence were Millville High School, Cumberland County (44); Passaic High School No. 12, Passaic County (44); Charles W. Lewis Middle School, Camden County (42) and the Ann A. Mullen Middle School, Camden County (32).”
And it’s not just playground dust-ups, it’s dangerous weapons, too:
“Across the state, the most weapons-related police calls were reported in Perth Amboy High School, Middlesex County (17); Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Academy, Union County (16) and Passaic High School No. 12, Passaic County (12).”
We ask again: where is New Jersey’s largest teachers union on this important issue, which directly and negatively impacts teachers?
This is not a new problem. Over the past two years, news reports have documented how student misbehavior increased dramatically post-COVID. Teachers have reported how their classes have been disrupted, student learning has been impaired, and that they have felt threatened by the disorder and violence.
We know that the NJEA has experience dealing with such issues — when they choose to make it a priority. Back in 2010, when confronted with a similar wave of student misbehavior and violence, the NJEA launched a statewide “10 steps to reduce violence” campaign, which called for political-style organizing by NJEA locals to address the problem:
“Organizing is necessary to address school violence because nothing else works, especially relying solely on school districts or government agencies to do the right thing.”
And NJEA headquarters was there to help with a webpage, resources, and staff:
“Make eliminating school violence a priority and commit to organizing members and allies to pressure district administration for real improvements. Enlist the assistance of the UniServ [NJEA] representative…”
The NJEA claims to teachers that it “ensur[es] your students are able to learn in safe, healthy environments,” but it is silent about the current unsafe, unhealthy environments in many New Jersey schools. Words are cheap. Where’s the action, NJEA?