In Pittsburgh and Allegheny County schools, incidents of students attacking teachers have increased even while school population has decreased. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (”Students’ Assaults on Teachers Hit High in 2006,” March 5, 2007; via EdNews.org), reports:

Juvenile probation records show the number of teachers assaulted by students in Allegheny County schools is steadily rising. [....]

Many assaults don’t even get reported because teachers refuse to press charges. [....]

Nancy Addy, a drama teacher at Langley High School, said she and her colleagues have seen a growing number of youngsters who lack civility and seem to be more rude and abusive than ever. [....]

School principals sometimes discourage teachers from filing charges or downplay confrontations with teachers and students so their schools won’t be seen as unsafe, said Nina Esposito-Visgitis, a staff representative with the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers. [....]

Part of the problem with trying to punish some youthful offenders is they view probation and jail time as a status symbol. [....]

[Probation office Jason Newhouse:] “…kids tend to show me more respect because I can send them back to court. Teachers can’t sanction them like I can. Kids take advantage of that and it makes things more difficult for teachers.”

The article also reports that the teachers’ union has reached agreement with the school district for the creation of a new alternative school for persistently disruptive students.