Disrespecting Teachers Might Soon Become A Legal Issue In Alabama

Teachers, around the world, face issues arising out of their interaction with students and the school administration on a daily basis. They become the ultimate victim of the unnecessary chaos produced during their time with the educational departments. 

In a much-needed move, the state of Alabama, US, seeks to codify the "Teacher Bill of Rights" that will provide teachers with the right to remove an undisciplined student from the class and the right to be free from the paperwork that sometimes becomes burdensome for them at their workplace. The bill is soon to be passed in order to give Alabama's teachers more power at work.

Although it is sad that a law is needed to promote respect towards teachers, yet it is a welcome move to provide them with their due respect. Do you agree?

The bill has cleared its way through the Legislative Committee hearing, where Rep. Kerry Rich, R-Albertville, one of the bill’s sponsors, remarked during the hearing, "Teachers have to put up with a bunch of crap that, in my opinion, they shouldn’t have to put up with." 

Mr. Rich also remarked that he modeled the bill on the lines of Louisiana’s Teacher Bill of Rights and also took into consultation similar laws from other states.

The bill of rights covers 10 important areas:

1. The right to be free from frivolous lawsuits and immunity where appropriate.
2. The right to use discipline, including corporal punishment, in accordance with board policy.
3. The right to remove “persistently disruptive students” from the classroom, including when a student is “impudent” or “defiant”.
4. The right to have their professional judgment respected by administrators when in accordance with board policy.
5. The right to teach in a “safe, secure, and orderly environment that is conducive to learning,”
6. The right to “be treated with civility and respect.
7. The right to communicate with parents and ask them to participate in “appropriate student disciplinary decisions.
8. The right to be free from excessive and burdensome paperwork.
9. The right to have a mentor assigned to them when they first start teaching.
10. The right to have time to collaborate with other teachers during the school day or week.

Take to the comment section and tell us about the privileges that you enjoy as an Educationist in your state/country. 

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