Growing Concerns Over Threats to Teachers in Finland
In Finnish schools, especially those targeting teachers, threats of violence have reached alarming levels. Police officials expressed their astonishment at the sudden increase in threats against teachers this spring term. The tragic incident at Viertola School in Vantaa at the beginning of April has contributed to the rise in violent threats in schools across the country.
In the incident, a 12-year-old sixth-grade student was shot and killed by a classmate, while two other students were injured. This shooting led to a brief period of chaos at the school. In April, the National Police Board of Finland received a total of 162 similar threats, half of which occurred in the first week of the month. The fact that many of these threats came from children as young as 10 years old further exacerbates the situation.
Chief Inspector Hannu Väänänen from the Western Uusimaa Police Department stated that the increasing threats of violence in Finnish schools are a reaction to an exceptional event. However, the rise in threats specifically targeting teachers has deepened concerns.
Väänänen highlighted that some students even respond to disciplinary actions with threats of violence, creating a significant issue for teachers. These threats pose a major challenge to maintaining safety and peace in the educational environment.
The threats against teachers include serious ones such as rape, murder, and stabbing. A survey conducted by the teachers’ union revealed that one in ten teachers has faced violence or threats of violence while on duty. Sara Simberg, an expert in legal and labor services for the organization, noted that this figure is particularly higher for early childhood and primary school teachers. Simberg stated that this negative trend has been developing over the past decade and has worsened in recent years. She emphasized the need for more accessible mental health services for children and young people.
Both Väänänen and Simberg stress the importance of providing training to prepare teachers for these threats. They also emphasize the need to encourage teachers to report any threats they encounter. The increasing threats pose a serious alarm for the Finnish education system. Urgent measures are needed to ensure the safety of both students and teachers.