News
Oregon Teacher Resigns, Citing Unsafe Classrooms and Daily Student Assaults
A troubling situation out of Dallas, Oregon is shining a spotlight on a growing issue in K–12 schools: classroom safety and the limits placed on meaningful discipline.
A nine-year elementary school teacher recently resigned at a public school board meeting after stating she could no longer endure daily physical and verbal assaults from students. She described classrooms where posters and student work are torn from walls, chairs and objects are thrown, and learning environments are regularly disrupted.
School data shared with parents shows disciplinary actions rose from 144 incidents in one school year to 428 the next— an increase of nearly 200%.
School leadership noted that most students follow the rules, but a small percentage of repeat offenders account for a large share of incidents. Even so, the impact on classrooms is significant for both students and staff.
Oregon law strictly limits suspensions for grades K–5. Suspension is generally allowed only when there is serious physical harm or a direct safety threat. Behaviors many parents consider serious — including hitting, kicking, pushing, throwing objects, or repeated verbal harassment — may not legally qualify for suspension.
The resigning teacher said reporting incidents is time-consuming, exhausting, and too often leads to little action.
⚖️ A Broader Trend: Weakened Discipline Policies
Many districts nationwide have shifted toward discipline models designed to reduce suspensions and exclusionary discipline.- “No-touch” or minimal-intervention approaches
- Restorative Justice models
- Equity-based discipline reforms
- Tight limits on suspensions and expulsions
While intended to keep students in class and address disparities, these policies have in some schools coincided with increased disruptions, teacher burnout, and safety concerns.
Parents and teachers alike are asking whether current policies strike the right balance between compassion and accountability.
📍 Other Oregon Examples Raising Concern
Tigard-Tualatin School District has also faced widely reported safety concerns tied to student violence and discipline limits. In that district, repeated incidents escalated to law-enforcement involvement, with some cases ending in felony-level consequences after multiple incidents. Community scrutiny over safety handling was followed by superintendent leadership changes. These situations underscore a growing concern: when discipline systems fail early, problems can escalate later.❗ Why This Matters
A safe classroom is not optional — it is foundational to learning.
Unchecked disruptions lead to:
- Lost instructional time
- Teacher burnout and resignations
- Students falling behind
- Erosion of trust between families and schools
Parents have both the right and responsibility to ask hard questions about school safety and discipline transparency.
✅ PRE Call to Action
✔ Ask your district about discipline and safety policies
✔ Request transparency on repeat incidents
✔ Advocate for policies that protect learning environments
✔ Support school board candidates who prioritize safety
If your child’s classroom environment conflicts with your expectations for safety and learning, you have options.
👉 Learn about your parental rights and opt-out tools here:
My Take — Suzanne Gallagher
Parents send their children to school expecting a safe environment where learning can thrive. When teachers feel unsafe and classrooms are repeatedly disrupted, it signals a system under strain.
This is not about punishing children — it is about protecting every student’s right to learn and ensuring schools have clear, fair, and effective discipline policies.
Compassion and accountability are not opposites. Students deserve support, and they also need boundaries that protect everyone.
Parents must stay engaged, ask questions, and work with local schools and boards to restore balance in the classroom.
Silence helps no one. Engagement helps everyone.
Parents’ Rights in Education Empowering parents. Protecting children. Defending education.Stay informed. Stay engaged. Support PRE.
