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Attacked teacher says some pupils are just unteachable
Dominic Hayes, Education Correspondent17.03.08
A London teacher has told how she was left with whiplash, cuts and bruises after a pupil assaulted her in class.
The woman, who has taught for 21 years, blamed social breakdown for creating a generat ion of "unteachable" children.
The teacher, who works at a comprehensive in south London but asked not to be named, said the experience had left her scared to confront misbehaviour in case she is assaulted again.
She said the problem had increased over the past decade.
"Behaviour is going downhill and what teachers and the general public expect isn't now what students expect," she said.
"There has been a massive increase in immediate aggression. I think it's a breakdown in society, a breakdown in discipline at home. We have students coming in Year 7 (age 11) who are unteachable in this way."
Delegates at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference starting today are expected to vote in favour of a new drive to improve discipline in schools, including extra help from the Government.
The 160,000-strong ATL released a survey of 813 of its members which showed that three out of 10 had faced "physical aggression" at work and one in 10 had suffered actual physical harm.
One in 12 had taken time off work after physical assaults by pupils, 12 per cent had required medical treatment and a third had suffered from stress and other mental health problems because of badly behaved pupils.
The London teacher, a member of ATL, was attacked when she took a class of pupils she did not know while covering for an absent colleague.
She asked the teenage boy who attacked her to take off his coat and sit down. After he responded aggressively, she told him to leave the room whereupon he shoved the door in her face, causing her injuries.
The teacher said: "I've been teaching for 21 years and it has really knocked my confidence. In a way, his behaviour was nothing unusual to what I deal with on a daily basis but I now don't want to confront students who are misbehaving."
Reader views (10)
This is the consequence of compulsory, universal, dumbed-down "education". Kids that can't be taught should go down a mine or up a chimney and leave the schools to those that actually want it.
- Neil, London, UK
Real, you try teaching young people and see how you then respond. If you are treated that way when you ask someone to take their coat off, then it is a problem and one that is all too often brushed under the carpet. I've had a chair thrown at me for asking for a bag to be put on the floor before.
- Katie, London, UK
In the 60s, the children with their parents were taught to be mindful, obedient,polite to grown-ups, teachers and authorities. When drugs became avaiable our human society broke down. What else is new? Can we change?
- Irmgard Clement, Hot Springs USA
We experience the same lack of discipline and good behaviour in Italy as well. I teach high school students (14 to 18 year olds) and they just can't respect rules and above all their teachers. They are only interested in activities which are in no way linked to studying and school. Even during lessons they listen to their ipods or chat all the time regardless of the presence of the teacher. The only thought of these guys becoming our future GPs or politicians really scares me
- Lella, Sassari-Italy
The blame lies squarely on the moral relativists who impose a values system on society that delineates no moral values at all under a newspeak umbrella of 'tolerance' and 'consensus'. Parents have no rights any more - not even the right to be called 'father' and 'mother' (in case the child's parents are actually a turkey-baster and a test-tube). They have been downgraded to roles of Primary and Secondary Caregivers in any combination of 17 new genders. Parental correction of their children's moral turpitude is deemed to be coercive imposition of outmoded personal values and, thus, infringement of personal liberty, in a world where increasingly, nanny state usurps parental authority, replacing it with Orwellian social engineering. Critical decisions in childrearing, traditionally the responsibility of parents, are now being made by faceless authorities, without reference to parents - or the the parents' right to know. Children's rights are given precedence over those of parents in disciplining them and inculcating traditional moral behaviour in their malleable consciences. The children who are running around as hellions today are the result of amoral social experiments that have been and are increasingly being foisted on a world that is becoming brain-dead from overexposure to mindless entertainment and amoral science.
- Dirk, Far North, New Zealand
Real, try teaching in an inner London school for a week and see if you change your opinion. Many youngsters, have too many "rights" but zero "responsibilities".
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Lack of discipline in role models exacerbates an already bad situation. When will the Football Association start penalising bad behaviour on the pitch - it's only through example that children will learn. Show them bad examples, whether they be Premier stars or their parents and all you end up with disgraceful examples of humanity.
- Tom,Surrey, Byfleet, Surrey
Sadly kids today are growing up with no discipline, no respect, no manners and no hope. One simple example - last week two 7-8 year olds in local school uniform (Slough), ran out in front of my car causing me to break and swerve - just missing them. I wound the window down and shouted to them to look where they were going. One immediately ran over to my car, spat at the window, called me a swear word and tried to kick the door in! This from a little 4 ft tall 7 year old......frightening!
- Gary Parker, amersham
This is ridiculous demonising of young people - something that seems so popular lately.
Teachers need to get real and find ways of reaching all pupils not just the quiet compliant ones.
- Real, London
It's not the kids, it's the parents, they seem to believe that their little angel is perfect and as such requires no discipline, when in reality they're a complete tearaway.
- Patrick Thistle, Aberdeen
