New Bedford Teachers Claim Assaults Happen Regularly

A group of teachers claim things are not what they seem in the New Bedford School District.

This year, unlike last year, few reports have surfaced this year about teachers being assaulted by students.

However, the teachers tell WBSM's sister station Fun 107, the assaults are happening on a regular basis and claim there are many students at the New Bedford High School with emotional and behavioral problems.

The teachers, who asked their voices be altered because they feared being punished for speaking with the media.

One teacher says that even when students are caught they are not severely punished, such as when one classroom was trashed by 11 students.

The teachers say they've reported incidents to their school principals, but nothing has been done.

They also say a request to meet with the superintendent was denied.

School Department spokesman Jon Carvalho tells WBSM news he's studied complaints from every school this school year, and there are very few complaints about teachers being assaulted.

Carvalho also says complaints can be to any one of three union committees that meet regularly with the superintendent.