Mexican schools disrupted by gang violence
The drug-related violence that plagues Mexico has become a growing problem for educators in the country, according to reports.
Last week, 140 elementary schools in the coastal city of Acapulco were forced to close after teachers were scared off by threats of extortion and kidnapping from local drug gangs.
In Ciudad Juarez, a city on Mexico's border with Texas, a group of parents waiting for their children were attacked by gunmen outside a school on August 25th.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, a vice principal at one Juarez elementary school said children in the country are surrounded by "a lot of negative influences" and frequently exposed to violence.
He added: "Being a teacher in Juarez is really hard. You must be a psychologist, a mediator and a mentor."
Cities such as Juarez and Acapulco have witnessed an escalating level of violent criminal activity since president Felipe Calderon launched his offensive on Mexico's drug cartels in December 2006.
