We live in a sad, sad world.

July 26, 2001 8:03 AM

We live in a sad, sad world. Teacher now get homicide insureance. This speaks for itself.
posted by aj100 (16 comments total)

This strikes me as more of a publicity stunt than a response to a genuine need. The statistics provided mention 29 deaths in almost a decade, and that includes people like school nurses and security guards, who I would guess can't even join the NEA. (Though I may be wrong about that.) Compare that to the risk for people like tow-truck drivers or convenience store clerks. The latter groups just don't have high profile unions.
Statistically speaking, they'd probably be better off with snake bite or lightning insurance, but of course that doesn't make for nearly as attention-grabbing of a press release.
posted by mragreeable at 8:25 AM on July 26, 2001

You know what's really sad? CNN's graphics:



How do they come up with this crap?
posted by mrbula at 8:43 AM on July 26, 2001

To quote a really really bad song:

The good old days weren't always good
And tomorrow's not as bad as it seems

This is something the teachers' union can bring to the bargaining table. "See? We even need homicide insurance!"
posted by jpoulos at 8:57 AM on July 26, 2001

A publicity stunt, yes, but it draws attention to a real issue. I have met many former teachers who left because the kids were completely out of control. And a friend who's still a teacher has had several death threats.
I've taught private classes before and won some awards for my teaching. That job was the best one I've ever had. Teach in a public school? Hell no, I'd be run right over by those kids. It's a shame too, would have been a really rewarding career.
No, they don't need homicide insurance. But violence in the classroom does need attention.
posted by hazyjane at 8:58 AM on July 26, 2001

"...but the new "unlawful homicide" benefit was approved only this year..."

Is there another kind of homicide?
posted by smo at 9:02 AM on July 26, 2001

Is there another kind of homicide?

Technically, yes. "Homocide" is taking another person's life, which can sometimes happen within the law (self-defense, etc.). "Murder," "manslaughter," etc. are the terms we use for unlawful homocide.

I think. Attorney in the house?
posted by jpoulos at 9:12 AM on July 26, 2001

"Unlawful homicide" is sort of like "forcible rape," which, in Texas at least, is different from plain ol' rape.
posted by mudbug at 9:34 AM on July 26, 2001

I knew that CNN graphic was going to get a mention. Is that some kids head on the foreground right?
posted by Sellersburg/Speed at 9:38 AM on July 26, 2001

Homicide is just someone causing someone else's death- it can include freak accidents, like giving someone deathly allergic to peanus a raisin muffin, and not knowing to tell them there's peanut paste in it. Unlawful homicide covers everything from negligence (knowing they're allergic, but forgetting) to manslaughter (giving them a basket of muffins, and figuring there's not enough paste to really hurt them) to murder (deliberately giving them the muffin when you know it'll cause them harm.)

So who wants muffins?
posted by headspace at 10:08 AM on July 26, 2001

Mmmm...homicidal muffin...
posted by zztzed at 10:25 AM on July 26, 2001

And will the Queen one day get regicide insurance? Woulda come in handy in Nepal...
posted by DiplomaticImmunity at 10:54 AM on July 26, 2001

....kids today...
posted by Postroad at 11:20 AM on July 26, 2001

I just want to make a point, i have a friend who is an elementary scholl teacher (not sure what grade) but she has recieved at least one death threat that I know of that was taken somewhat seriously.
posted by tj at 1:34 PM on July 26, 2001

And then there's Suzanna Hupp, a Texas state representative. She thinks it would be forward-thinking of us to allow teachers and principals to carry guns in schools. It would cut down on the number of shootings, she thinks. (The bill passed the House "Public Safety" Committee but was never heard on the floor.)

Oh, her parents were killed in what is still, I think, the worst mass shooting in US history. She has some, shall we say, issues. Here's an interesting transcript of a chat with her.
posted by mudbug at 2:13 PM on July 26, 2001

Jeez, how did I manage to screw up every one of the above links? Sorry.
Hupp
Guns
Shooting
Transcript
posted by mudbug at 2:21 PM on July 26, 2001

Teacher now get homicide insureance. This speaks for itself.

If your English teacher reads this, he/she will need suicide insurance as well!

Sorry, first thing that popped into me head when I read it...
posted by RevGreg at 3:09 PM on July 26, 2001