Inside the Classroom Chaos: US Teachers Injured as Children’s Behaviour Spirals Out of Control
A growing number of teachers are being injured while trying to support children with complex behavioural needs, raising fresh concerns about the need for better behavioural support for children in schools.
An investigation by the Long Beach Post found that serious injuries among teachers in California’s Long Beach Unified School District have increased in recent years. Records from workers’ compensation claims showed that severe cases rose from 49 in the 2021–22 school year to 72 in 2024–25.
Teachers said they have been bitten, kicked, scratched, pinched and headbutted while helping children who were struggling to regulate their emotions. One special education teacher, Lisa Just, suffered a permanent eye injury after a pupil headbutted her during a classroom incident.
The report suggests that the problem is not simply about teacher safety. Many of the children involved have significant behavioural or emotional needs. When those needs are not identified early or properly supported, children can become overwhelmed. In some cases, that distress is expressed through aggressive behaviour.
Educators also pointed to a shortage of trained support staff. They said funding cuts and the loss of post-pandemic mental health programmes have reduced the help available in classrooms.
Some teachers told the publication that requests for extra classroom assistants and behavioural specialists were turned down, even when there was clear evidence that children needed more support.
Child rights advocates say every child deserves a safe school where they can learn, develop and receive the help they need. They argue that investing in behavioural support for children, alongside school-based mental health services and trained specialists, would protect both pupils and teachers while creating a more positive learning environment for everyone.
