Teachers fight to protect students
Updated: February 27, 2013
DECATUR -- Headlines like, "Students shot in classroom" is making teachers ask themselves a tough question. The answer: fight back. Now one teacher is teaming up with others in Macon County to help them do the same.
She's teaching a free martial art classes and taught students self-defense earlier this month. Now she's starting a 6 week course for teachers, hoping to take fear out of the classroom.
Lisa Biba teaches at Robertson Charter School. She can come off as quiet and reserved, but don't get on her bad side. She's a third degree black belt and has been practicing Martial Arts for 20 years. Now she wants to pass the power of defense onto her coworkers.
"If you do find yourself in a panic situation you say, 'oh yeah, I can turn this way, I can step this way, I can move this way,' to give them the confidence to defend themselves," Biba said.
Confidence she says disappeared after the Sandy Hook shooting. But now she hopes some of these moves will help teachers find it again.
"You keep hearing stories about intruders coming into the school to hurt kids. We need to be prepared more than just moving them to a safe area but doing hand-to-hand combat like this," teacher Sonje Sturdivant said.
Everyday teachers watch over our kids. Biba just wants them to know they're strong and they have the power to protect.
"We're all in this together."
She's teaching a free martial art classes and taught students self-defense earlier this month. Now she's starting a 6 week course for teachers, hoping to take fear out of the classroom.
Lisa Biba teaches at Robertson Charter School. She can come off as quiet and reserved, but don't get on her bad side. She's a third degree black belt and has been practicing Martial Arts for 20 years. Now she wants to pass the power of defense onto her coworkers.
"If you do find yourself in a panic situation you say, 'oh yeah, I can turn this way, I can step this way, I can move this way,' to give them the confidence to defend themselves," Biba said.
Confidence she says disappeared after the Sandy Hook shooting. But now she hopes some of these moves will help teachers find it again.
"You keep hearing stories about intruders coming into the school to hurt kids. We need to be prepared more than just moving them to a safe area but doing hand-to-hand combat like this," teacher Sonje Sturdivant said.
Everyday teachers watch over our kids. Biba just wants them to know they're strong and they have the power to protect.
"We're all in this together."
