We already know teaching is a difficult profession. In recent years, it’s become a dangerous one, too. But according to a study published in the Journal of School Violence, and reported by the Ohio Capital Journal, female teachers are at the greatest risk for violence.

“Female teachers were more likely to report experiences of violence from all types of perpetrators pre-COVID-19, whereas females only experienced more violence perpetrated by parents during COVID,” the study said, according to the Capital Journal.

Other factors studied included location — rural and suburban schools reported less violence against teachers than did urban schools, both before and during the pandemic; and “performance goal structure.”

“Our results indicate that an instructional climate that emphasizes performance and test scores may set the stage for negative teacher and student interactions that may lead to violence against educators,” the study said.

Ohio State University education psychology professor Eric Anderman analyzed the report.

“What was really striking was this performance culture predicted all kinds of increased violence by students, whether it be physical violence, verbal threatening, or property violence,” Anderman said, according to the Capital Journal.

But what do we do? No one has yet come up with a solution to the problem of measuring whether our schools are performing well in educating our kids and preparing them for life in the real world. Right now, test scores are just about the only metric we have.

Yet the study suggests changing the performance-focused methods in schools and creating channels for students to release stress without pushing grade-based success.

“This is about changing the way we talk to kids about what learning is about and what is really important,” Anderman said.

That may be a message as much for parents as for teachers, given that the drive for better test scores does not show any signs of going away. At the very least, we’ve got to give these teachers the support they need to do their jobs for our kids AND be safe while doing it.

In the meantime, education researchers had better be looking for those nonperformance goal structures that still hold school systems accountable and give our students the education they deserve.