ST. THOMAS — Teachers at Lockhart K-8 School participated in a job action that was unsanctioned by the St. Thomas/St. John Federation of Teachers today as they took a stand against a lack of disciplinary action for disobedient students that has resulted in some teachers being harassed, and even one being attacked, according to the union president and two teachers who participated in the job action, which resulted in early dismissal of students from fourth to eighth grades only.
The two teachers voiced concern with being threatened by students and parents, a lack of discipline when students misbehave, no long-term solution to address the root causes that have led to suspension of students, insufficient staff to include only three school monitors for 1,000 students, and overcrowded classrooms that are not conducive to learning.
“We feel like we are the inmates, and the children are the warden,” one of the teachers said. “That’s why we all had to take a stand and say, ‘enough is enough.’”
The teacher called for the school’s administrators to implement stricter disciplinary actions to deter students from acting out, which she noted included a couple of students and their parents going to a teacher’s house. She said the action resulted in suspension, but the students returned to school without learning a lesson.
“What more has to happen?” she asked. “Does some real catastrophes have to happen before they take a stand?”
Another teacher who participated in the job action said students who get suspended return to the school with the same behavior issues. She said one of her students didn’t do his schoolwork, adding that the student’s father told her that his son does not have to complete the work. She said parents are causing disruptions, too.
“I have been threatened twice by parents,” she said. “And today I had to go to the police station to fill out a police report because this parent threatened to kill me.”
Leontyne Jones, St. Thomas/St. John Federation of Teachers president, said the job action came about because teachers were fed up with the behavior of the students at the school.
“There are a few repeat offenders that are disruptive, rude, and violent,” she said.
Jones said three students threatened to harm a teacher after following him home. She said another teacher was attacked at school in an incident that resulted in her glasses getting broken, noting the teacher had to restrain the student.
“They feel as though nothing has been put in place to make them feel safe in school,” she said. “Even though these students were suspended, the behavior has not changed, so that was really like the crux of the situation at Lockhart today, along with some other things like poor communication between faculty and staff, some infrastructure issues, but the main thing was students not being held accountable for their actions.”
The unsanctioned job action resulted in the voices of the teachers being heard as officials from the Virgin Islands Department of Education, including Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington, immediately met with the faculty members.
“I think it’s a good thing now that there’s communication going on, and they’re going to work on some solutions as to how to deal with these problem students,” Jones said.
VIDE issued a statement after the commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Victor Somme III, and Insular Superintendent Stefan Jürgen met with the school’s administration, faculty, and staff. The department said recent incidents of student and parental threats against teachers have raised concerns within the school’s educational community.
“Specific concerns have been raised regarding disruptive behavior and repeat offenses by students,” Wells-Hedrington said in a statement. “In hearing the concerns of the teachers, we understand the severity of the issues presented. Disruptive behavior not only interrupts the learning process but also undermines the safety and well-being of students and educators. We recognize the need for the implementation of improved internal practices to address the issues head-on. The school’s administration and VIDE officials remain committed to providing teachers with the resources and support they need to navigate these challenging circumstances. The school’s administration will work with faculty, staff, and district personnel to develop a plan to address reoccurring behavioral concerns.”
Although the teachers are expected to return to their classrooms on Thursday, the long-standing issues have not yet been resolved. Jones agreed there is a need for the school administrators and VIDE officials to figure out how to deal with the issues on an ongoing basis.
“It will take some time to resolve this issue,” she said. “There’s some structural things that need to be put in place to assist the teachers at Lockhart with this ongoing disciplinary issue with these students.”
Jones pointed out that the administration followed its protocol by suspending the students, adding that more needs to be done.
“They were sent back to school but that does not solve the issue,” she said.
The Department of Education stated that it recognizes the need to actively engage with students, parents, and community stakeholders to reinforce the values of mutual respect and conflict resolution within schools. The department said parents and guardians play a critical role in the education of their children, noting that it is imperative that concerns be addressed through respectful and constructive dialogue adhering to school protocols, rather than resorting to violence or threats.
“The safety and security of our educational spaces remain a priority, where teaching and learning can thrive without fear or intimidation,” Wells-Hedrington stated. “We take these matters extremely seriously. Our educators are the backbone of our educational system, and their safety is of utmost importance. Any threat or act of violence against them is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The Department of Education issued a statement at 12:48 p.m. today announcing the urgent dismissal of students from fourth to eighth grade because of the job action. Parents were asked to pick up their students as soon as possible. Transportation was available for students in the affected grades who rely on school bus service. Students in kindergarten to third grade remained on campus for regular school operations until 2:45 p.m.
