Reply to Question for fellow teachers - student threatened to punch me

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I told them this but they said they don’t think he is a threat.  I don’t understand how threatening to punch a teacher only warrants a one day suspension. [/quote]

Teacher here—he didn’t actually punch you, so there was a threat but no assault. One day suspension makes sense (students need to be in school). I also would not want him in my class, I understand why you are nervous. But since your admin won’t help you, here’s my advice (you’re not going to like it):

You need to be kind to this student. If he comes in and feels threatened because you are cold to him and taking notes on him constantly, he will be on edge and that’s what may make him more likely to hurt you. If you focus on repair and “kill him with kindness” attitude, he’s not going to want to hurt someone who is kind to him and who forgave him for something he knows deep down he shouldn’t have said. He may not deserve your kindness, but you extending warmth to him may save you from assault. Also, you gain back the power he tried to take from you. And students who know adults don’t have power are simultaneously thrilled and scared.

You can do this, op. Deep breaths. Head held high. Smile on your face. Eye contact with the boy. Take back control. [/quote]
I won’t say this is bad advice, it could work but there are plenty of kids this wouldn’t work on. There are people who want to intimidate and harm others that is not connected to how the other person treats them. 
-another teacher who has been physically assaulted by a student. [/quote]

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