Teachers offered homicide insurance

[kiml122]

I don't know about anyone else, but I really feel it's a crime and a shame that it has come to this.

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...and like that I'm gone!!
KL

[RENEEDST_22]

I agree with you (KIM), I seen it on CNN Headline news this morning...

What is the world coming too???

[AKA2D '91]

Yeah, this insurance is all well and good.

But, what happens when the person who has "accidentally" killed you or whatever has the LAW protecting him or her? What happens when a simple statement is written in his or her Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that he or she is violent, therefore if something were to happen, nothing happens to him or her in the eyes of the court?

I guess all that $$$ our families would receive from some insurance will make it all better FOR THEM.

Heck, PROTECT ME BEFORE something happens!

[korkscru]

I can understand the insurance offer for teachers, but what about the social workers, counselors, probation officers and other agencies that work with these at-risk kids?
We should be offered the same incentive because we (I'm an in-home counselor)are at just as much risk when we go in and try to help these children and their families. The majority of the time, the FAMILIES of these kids expect the AGENCIES to "make things right" and in a short period of time. They want agencies to come in and clean up a TERRIBLE mess that has been developing over many years. It's like they believe that we have this magic potion or something to change these kids. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!!! Just to HEAR some of these youths TALK is amazing.

I work with these kids in the schools, homes, and I TRY to work with them in the community. I hate to say this, but many of these kids act as if they have no hope at all. It's as if they have no MOTIVATION.

Yes, SensativAF, this IS a sad situation.

[AKA2D '91]

You all will have to have your unions to address this.

[CrimsonTide4]

July 26, 2001
Web posted at: 8:43 AM EDT (1243 GMT)


WASHINGTON (AP) -- High-profile killings of teachers in the past several years have prompted the nation's largest teachers' union to offer a $150,000 benefit for the families of members slain on the job at school.

The National Education Association has offered life insurance to members since the 1980s, but the new "unlawful homicide" benefit was approved only this year. It will be announced to the union's 2.6 million members in a September newsletter.

Under the benefit, families of slain teachers, aides and other NEA member employees are eligible to collect three times as much as if the worker were killed accidentally.

Randy Martin, who handles risk management for NEA Member Benefits, said the new coverage was not the result of any single incident. "It was just the knowledge that these incidents were occurring," Martin said.

"I think it's very good that we're doing this," said Wayne Johnson, president of the California Teachers Association. "I think that it's sad that we need to do it."

The benefit is free to NEA members.

Jamie Horwitz, spokesman for the American Federation of Teachers union, said its members have not requested such a benefit, but the AFT's benefits historically have mirrored those offered by the NEA. Horwitz said the union probably would consider the homicide benefit.

While recent high-profile school shootings have focused media attention on school violence, few teachers or staff have been slain on the job over the past decade.

According to the National School Safety Center, which keeps statistics on school violence for the federal government, 29 school staff members -- teachers, administrators, custodians, nurses, school police officers -- have died violently at work since 1992.

Teacher Dave Sanders was among 13 victims of two student gunmen, who killed themselves, in the 1999 Columbine High School shootings in Colorado. Most recently, Lake Worth, Florida, teacher Barry Grunow was shot in the head by a student on the last day of school in 2000.

The 14-year-old boy convicted in the killing faces 25 years to life in prison in his sentencing, scheduled Thursday.

"Obviously one death is one too many, and I don't want to minimize the importance of those, but violent deaths as a whole are a small, small percentage of overall school violence," said Ken Trump, an Ohio school safety consultant. He said teachers are much more likely to be assaulted at work.

Johnson said school violence has become "sort of a sign of the times."

"It's a sad reality that there is this random violence in the public schools," he said. "I'm glad the NEA is doing it. I hope it won't be used very often, but I'm glad it's there for the families of teachers who will be attacked and killed."

[JJSP01]

I saw this on the news last night....it's a shame that our society has come to this. Police officers don't even have "homicide insurance" and they are putting their lives on the line everyday. This is so sad.


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Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
#47 of Triage 47 SP'01

"Every woman dreams of wearing crimson and creme."