NO. 51

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The Senate assembled at 11:00 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned, and was called to order by the ACTING PRESIDENT, Senator CROMER .

The following remarks by Senator JOHNSON were ordered printed in the Journal of March 26, 2026:

"I was spit on. I was stabbed in the neck. I was hit so hard I have permanent vision loss in one eye. I have to see a doctor two times a week for six months to try to get better. I was shoved and tore my ACL. I was picked up and slammed into a door."

Where do I think that's happening? That's happening this year in South Carolina classrooms. Those are comments from teachers in South Carolina public schools describing what they are enduring every day.

It gets worse. They're cussed at. I cannot use the words they are called from this well. And you know what happens almost every time? That child leaves the classroom -- often, if they are in elementary school, they are given a snack -- and they are right back there before the day is out. In almost every assault incident, the child returns to the classroom.

I read an article this morning and it really hit home for me. It said inclusion does not require that every single space accommodate every possible behavior, regardless of the cost to others. It is unacceptable that one child is allowed to do this. When I talked to my wife about this Bill -- and my wife is a second-grade teacher -- she told me, "One student should not stop the learning of all the others."

I have to say this one really got me. A child picks up a pair of scissors, puts them to the neck of the teacher, and says, "I'm going to kill you." They do it every day. They stand on the desk and say, "I'm going to kill you." They tell the other students, "I'm going to kill you." The child leaves and ten minutes later, the child is back.

I am asking the Senate to join me on this Bill that was just read across the desk. Let's be sure that when we are teaching children, the progress of every other student isn't stopped. This has to end. This Bill says quite simply that the student shall be removed. There is no "may"; there is no "you're going to think about it." It is shall. I ask that we stand up for teachers and, quite honestly, the other children in these classrooms, and get this passed.

At 11:04 A.M., on motion of Senator DEVINE, the Senate adjourned to meet next Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 12:00 P.M.

This web page was last updated on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 11:15 A.M.