NEWPORT NEWS — The Newport News Education Association President condemned the premise of the school division’s motion to dismiss Abigail Zwerner’s pending $40 million lawsuit.
The motion was filed last week by attorneys representing the School Board and argues that Zwerner, who was shot in her classroom at Richneck Elementary in January by a 6-year-old student, is only entitled to file a worker’s compensation claim because the injury she sustained from the shooting is a “workplace injury,” and that the shooting was a hazard of the job.
It’s double speak. It’s to dehumanize the profession. It’s a known tactic by politicians. Teachers is comforting word. It evokes an emotional response of comfort. Educators is surgical. Cold.
Both are precise. But one makes the decision to make technical arguments without living in the emotional baggage. See friendly fire, hostile takeover, downsizing, relocation, etc.