A Detroit high school teacher who was fired for using a broom to break up a fight has been offered her job back, but she has vowed not to return until policies guaranteeing more protection for students and teachers are put in place, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Tiffani Eaton lost her job May 1 for using a broom to break up a fight that occurred the day before between two boys in her classroom at Pershing High School. Michigan's Education Achievement Authority offered Eaton's job back after the incident received national attention in support of the teacher. Now, Eaton wants to use what happened to her to prevent future violence.
"If I took my job back without asking for the positive changes that this opportunity has afforded, this kind of incident could happen again," Eaton said at a Wednesday press conference, the Detroit Free Press reported. "And for certain I am not pleased with what took place, but we need to make sure this doesn't happen again, and simply reinstating the job isn't going to solve the problem.
Eaton is calling for the EAA to install a policy that supports teachers for taking action during emergencies, as well as outlining what a teacher is supposed to do in situations like the one she dealt with.
Jeffery Lance Abood, Eaton's lawyer, said his client never received training to deal with emergencies. At first Eaton used a walkie-talkie to call security after one of the boys began punching the other one. But Eaton received no reply.
"No one showed up and the situation got serious," Abood told the newspaper. "Someone could have ended up dead here. Other students in the classroom could have gotten injured as well. She should be praised for this."
The fight was over a belt from the designer label Gucci, Abood told the Detroit Free Press.
Eaton is also demanding that security for students be readily available when called. Abood said he is meeting with the EAA over the next week to reach an agreement.
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