For the fifth year, State Senators have passed a plan to protect South Carolina's teachers from violence in the classroom. The Teacher Protection Act of 2009 passed the Senate February 10 and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration where it has continuously died in past years.

The act would allow a teacher to bring a civil action against a student who commits a criminal offense against the teacher, protect a teacher from civil liability for acting to prevent a criminal offense, and establish specific penalties for committing assault and battery against a person affiliated with a school in an official capacity.

Senator Glenn Mc- Connell (R-Charleston County), lead sponsor of the plan said, "Our kids are being bombarded with violence on television, the Internet, and in our communities. Unfortunately, that negative influence is making its way into too many of South Carolina's classrooms and we have to put a stop to it."

McConnell continued, "It is now more important than ever that we crack down on violent behavior in schools. South Carolina's State Senators are dedicated to cleaning up our dangerous classrooms so that students can learn and teachers can teach in a safe environment." The bill addresses each criminal level of assault against school employees:

A student who commits "simple assault" against a person affiliated with a school in an official capacity when the offense occurs on school grounds or at a school- sponsored event, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, or imprisonment of up to 30 days, or both.

A student who commits "assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature" against a person affiliated with a school in an official capacity is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to ten years, or both.

Wesley Donehue