THIRTY years ago, one of the safest places to work was in the classroom. Fast-forward to 2009 and this is no longer the case.

Career & Education shares with you this week the many hazards now faced by educators in the classroom of the 21st century.

Hazards

. Dusty classrooms that aggravate the sinuses.

. Leaking roofs that allow rain to come in and wet not only furniture and teaching aids, but also the teacher.

. Dilapidated furniture that not only damage clothing but also presents a danger to teachers making their way around the classroom.

. Verbal threats from underperforming students and their parents.

. Violence at the hands of students and/or parents.

. Exposure to the daily use of expletives from students.

. Exposure to sexual harassment.

. Exposure to physical and verbal clashes among students, such as the ongoing “Gully/Gaza” saga.

. Purchase sinus tablets or other medication and take them with you.

. Keep a rain coat and/or umbrella at your desk.

. Wear clothes that will not be easily damaged by nails that protrude from tables, desk and/or chairs in the classroom.

. Choose your battles carefully; do not attempt to take on every student who misbehaves.

. Learn self-defence techniques.

. Get in the know about teenage sexuality so that in the event that you are sexually harassed, you will be able to deal with it.

. Familiarise yourself with the popular “street talk” so that when students make reference to “Gully” and/or “Gaza” you don’t mistakenly believe that they are talking about some aspect of geography or world history.

. If you are hypertensive, ensure that you take your blood pressure pills.

But if you do nothing else, ensure that you say a prayer each day, asking the Almighty for health, strength and protection.

Wayne Powell is a human resources professional. He may be contacted at crisscounsellor@yahoo.com or at crisscounselloronline.com