AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Education Association says an educator allowed herself to be scratched, bitten and thrown against a wall rather than use force against a student to avoid running afoul of new rules on restraint.

Lois Kilby-Chesley, a teacher and MEA president, said it’s one of ‘‘dozens’’ of such incidents across the state and that educators are ‘‘fearful if they do so much as touch a child’s arm to prevent them from throwing a book they will lose their jobs.’’

Kilby-Chesley said Monday that she’s written a letter to Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen to express her concerns about what she describes as inadequate training for teachers.