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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 200
BY SENATOR GUILLORY
SCHOOLS. Requests the state Department of Education to study current discipline statutes
and policies and make recommendations to the Senate for ways to protect teachers from
classroom violence.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the state Department of Education to study current discipline statutes2
and policies and make recommendations to the Senate for ways to protect teachers3
from classroom violence.4
WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association recently established a task5
force on violence directed against teachers; and6
WHEREAS, the task force conducted a nationwide survey with the assistance of the7
National Educators' Association and found that seven percent of teachers, which amounts8
to over two hundred fifty-three thousand teachers, reported being threatened with injury each9
year; and10
WHEREAS, of those teachers, over one hundred twenty-seven thousand claim to11
have been physically attacked by students; and 12
WHEREAS, the costs of teacher victimization include lost wages, lost classroom13
days, teacher attrition, negative impact on learning for the students that do behave, medical14
and psychological care, student disciplinary proceedings, and possible incarceration; and15
WHEREAS, the nationwide costs of teacher victimization to teachers, parents, and16
taxpayers are calculated to exceed two billion dollars annually; and17
WHEREAS, it has been suggested that Louisiana's current student discipline statutes18 SR NO. 200
SLS 14RS-4715 ORIGINAL
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could be strengthened to address student initiated violence directed toward teachers.1
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana2
does hereby urge and request the state Department of Education to study current discipline3
statutes and policies and make recommendations to the Senate for ways to protect teachers4
from classroom violence.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state Department of Education seek6
testimony from the Louisiana School Boards Association, the Louisiana Association of7
Educators, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, and the Associated Professional Educators8
of Louisiana during the study.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state Department of Education submit its10
report to the Senate Committee on Education no later than February 1, 2015.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the12
state superintendent of education.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
Guillory SR No. 200
Requests the state Dept. of Education (DOE) to study current discipline statutes and policies
and make recommendations to the Senate for ways to protect teachers from classroom
violence.
Requires DOE to seek testimony from the Louisiana School Boards Association, the
Louisiana Association of Educators, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, and the
Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana during the study.
Requires that a report be submitted to the Senate Committee on Education no later than
February 1, 2015.