Report: Teachers Talk
School Culture, Safety and Human Rights

Teachers Talk brings the voice of teachers to the debate around safety and discipline in schools.  The report by NESRI and Teachers Unite is based on surveys of more than 300 New York City public school teachers from 136 middle and high schools.  The report shows that teachers believe that punitive approaches toward children, such as aggressive policing, suspensions and other reactive strategies, undermine the human right to education by failing to address the causes of conflict and criminalizing the school environment.  Teachers support a holistic, human rights-based approach to discipline that uses preventive and constructive approaches to create positive school cultures, teach behavior skills and use conflict resolution.

Full Report - PDF
Press Release - PDF

Article in Gotham Schools  - “Teachers Say Caring Relationships Make Schools Safe”

Article from Edutopia.org - "How to Develop Positive Classroom Management"

Get involved with Teachers Unite by joining their listserv or attending Borough Committee meetings where teachers support grassroots community organizing campaigns demanding justice for NYC communities, particularly in schools.

Teachers Talk presents 14 action steps for the Mayor and Department of Education, including support for three active campaigns:

1. Student Safety Act (link to http://www.nyclu.org/schooltoprison/ssa) – Call for the New York City Council to pass the Student Safety Act, which requires data reporting on suspensions, expulsions, and police incidents in schools, and gives students the right to file complaints against School Safety Agents before the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB).
2. Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC) Student Success Centers (link tohttp://www.urbanyouthcollaborative.org/page/what-we-do)– Support and expand UYC Student Success Centers which enable students to design school-tailored programs that enhance and support progressive, non-punitive solutions to conflict, and support college access for all.
3. DRUM Immigrant Safe Zones (link to http://www.drumnation.org/programs/youth.html) – Pass “Immigrant Safe Zones” which will ensure enforcement of city and Department of Education laws that protect immigration status information of students and their families.