Freedumb Files: Parent Assaults Teacher Over Face Mask

 

by Pa Rock

Former Teacher and Principal

 I remember the first day of the school year as being an exciting time, especially when I was in elementary school:  fresh school supplies, new clothes, old friends, meeting the teacher and becoming acclimated to the classroom.  It was a wondrous time.  Years later as an elementary school principal I still found the first day of school to be one of the most exciting and rewarding of the school year.    Weeks of hard work by teachers suddenly came together as the doors opened to another crop of children eager to get back to the exciting task of learning.

Great times!

But times change, and I am quite certain that being a teacher or running a school is not the joyful experience that it was just a few short years ago.  People have more pent-up anger today and seem to approach every situation ready to boil over at the slightest provocation.  The lingering pandemic is undoubtedly behind some of this frustration, but the situation is also being inflamed by scurrilous politicians and pundits who seem eager to keep their followers in turmoil.

Last Wednesday was the first day of school at the Amador County Unified School District in northern California, and as that first day of classes was coming to a close there was a serious incident between a parent and staff members at one of the district's elementary schools.   A parent was waiting to pick up his daughter at the Sutter Creek Elementary School (K-6) when he saw her leave the building wearing a face mask.  The parent had apparently sent the little girl to school that morning without a mask and had intended for her to remain unmasked.   

(The California state health department has mandated that masks be worn inside of the state's schools, and the district superintendent says that the school has no discretion over the matter.)

The angry father chose to confront the female principal on the spot, with countless parents and children undoubtedly watching, and was expressing his outrage when a male teacher interceded, obviously with the intent of protecting the principal.  That made the parent even angrier, and he assaulted the teacher leaving him with lacerations on the face and a "knot" on the back of his head.   

The parent has been barred from the campus, and the child is welcome back at school.   A police report was filed and school officials are currently working the the country district attorney's office to determine whether or not to file charges against the parent.

In a letter to parents telling of the incident, the school's superintendent gave this snippet of very sound advice:

"If I ask nothing more of you this school year it is this. Take a breath, pause, listen and walk away if necessary." 

The superintendent also noted that the school had two primary objectives with regard to the pandemic situation:  to keep everyone safe - and to keep the schools open.

She also had this to say

"I beg that we do our best to set all feelings aside and look at what is best for students. We know emotions are high, and conversations are intense. We must promote and support school environments that are compassionate and sympathetic. I encourage you to connect with someone in our school community you feel comfortable confiding in to create a safe place to vent and obtain clarification as needed. The mandates are forever changing so understanding current requirements is critical. Staff will support you and listen at all times when communication is appropriate."

One parent had his say, his way, and probably earned bragging rights down at the local honkey-tonk, and he may or may not go to court, and ultimately to jail.  But he also has a child who has been traumatized and may now develop a twisted view of what school, and even life, is all about.   And others have been traumatized as well:  the parents who watched the incident unfold and now have to worry about random outbreaks of violence in which their own children might get hurt, the other children who saw their friend's dad get crazy and hit a teacher, and the teachers and staff members who now have to do their jobs, with smiles on their faces, all the while knowing they could be the next ones to run afoul of a deranged parent.

Schools should be places of joy and hope, and not gauntlets of fear.  

God bless the dedicated teachers, administrators, and other school personnel who have the courage and determination to show up for work in these awful times, and who constantly strive to educate and protect the children in their care.   They are true heroes!