Violence in the Work Place

I work at a school for kids with emotional disturbances. Since I am pretty much the only young male employee, I have become the go to person in school when kids are acting out. This leads to days like today when I have kids who refuse to stay in the class, throw tantrums, and act generally inappropriate. Having to ohysically restrain kids who are physically aggressive and threatening to hurt others, myself, and themselves has become a part of my world from Monday to Friday. I was thinking today...how many people out there really have to deal with violence in their jobs on a daily basis. What type of jobs do people have where they need to be wary of somebody hitting or kicking them?

The first job that comes to my mind is a police officer. They need to be constantly aware that they are targets, and that they will be dealing with unsafe people. Arresting a person can obviously be a violent act, and the aggressive driving that officers undertake is definitely intense.

Other people that deal with criminals or the mentally ill probably also have to deal with violence with their job. I would include some doctors, teachers, social workers, and nurses who probably deal with violence often in the work place. Prison guards and military personnel deal with violence. Paramedics probably encounter some violent people as well.

My thoughts are that there are people out there who deal with violence at work, but it is probably a vast minority. Its a sad thing in society that people earn their money while dealing with violence. It definitely isn't for all people to have their work day involve working with violent individuals.
Peace seems like such an easy concept, but for some people it really is difficult. I've learned that those with emotional disturbances truly don't understand how to resolve conflicts peacefully. Those who work with violent people need to understand violence, but need to have a self awareness that keeps them from becoming violent themselves.
I am cursed at by young children. I've had my life and my family's lives threatened by angry children. I've been kicked, scratched at, hit, and even punched in the face by these kids. My ability to have empathy for why they are violent is important. I understand why they want to hurt other people, but I don't resort to that type of reaction myself. If I did so, I would have been out of a job a long time ago.

When we hear about police officers who cross the line and use brutality against others, I feel they are people who are violent themselves. They take aggression towards them personally and react with violence themselves. When dealing with violent individuals it is important not to take their actions personally. Their aggressive behavior is an inability to properly communicate the emotions they feel. Helping these people learn why they act violent, and coming up with non-violent solutions for them is probably the best way to deal with them.