Senator Ron Sharp’s bill to lower the grade level from sixth to third grade at which students who are violent toward others can be subject to out-of-school suspension is headed to the Senate floor. The Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 81 on Monday.
“Teachers aren’t licensed counselors but every day they’re faced with children acting out from abuse, divorces, neglect and other issues, and it’s happening in elementary schools,” said Sharp. “Not only is this a distraction in the classroom but it can also be dangerous when children act out in rage overturning chairs, tables and in some cases hitting, shoving or in some other way assaulting others or threatening to harm them. We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our classrooms and allowing out-of-school suspensions is one of the ways we can do that.”
It was the Professional Oklahoma Educators (POE) who brought up the subject with Sharp. The organization contends they have seen more reports of third to fifth graders committing violence against teachers.
