This Teacher did a Good Thing

Quick Thinking Can (and Did) Save a Student

A little more than 15 miles NNW of Stockholm lies the quiet community of Upplands Väsby, Sweden. This small municipality, with fewer than 50,000 residents, was perhaps best known for the Ekebo burial ground, where a bronze axe dating from around 600 to 700 BC was discovered. But our focus today is on Runby School and the remarkable courage of a teacher named Cheima.

Heroism is always commendable, but when it occurs in a school setting, it demands special recognition.

Cheima, a teacher of Tunisian descent, found herself facing a terrifying situation in the school parking lot. She saw a man with a knife approaching one of her students. Instinctively, Cheima shouted to the student, "Run! Run as fast as you can!" The student, whose identity is being withheld, heeded her warning and escaped unharmed. Tragically, this brave act made Cheima the attacker's target.

"I felt something was going to happen," she later said.

Despite the impending danger, Cheima's focus remained on the student's safety. The assailant struck her head and then stabbed her twice in the stomach.

Cheima, trained to handle such violent situations, knew the risks and how to respond. This training enabled her to remain calm until the student was safe.

"If I had run away, what would have happened to the student?" she explained.

Understandably, the aftermath has been challenging. While the community's support has been overwhelming, the emotional scars are still healing, and sleep has been elusive.

However, the outpouring of love and gratitude has been tremendous. Her phone rings constantly with well-wishers, and flowers arrive at her home as tokens of appreciation. This underscores the profound impact she has had on those around her. (Cheima's bravery isn't a new development; she was honored twice as Role Model of the Year in her previous municipality, Järfälla.)

This act of heroism has, as one would expect, spurred conversations about school safety. These are important discussions, but here, we wish to highlight Cheima's courage and compassion.

Teachers are lauded for their far-reaching impact on students' lives. In this case, we have even more reason to celebrate a teacher—a much more profound one. As her community rallies around her, Cheima's story reaffirms the power of kindness and bravery.