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Teachers: Train us to use force against pupils
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent7 Apr 2009
TEACHERS today demanded training in the use of force to restrain violent pupils amid warnings that classroom behaviour is out of control.
Weak parenting and violent TV programmes fuel the problem while some schools are too soft on unruly children, says the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
In the last 15 months, the union has received more than 200 insurance claims from teachers who have had cars vandalised and personal property damaged at school, while countless other members have suffered attacks and harassment at home.
New laws have given school staff a clear legal right to search pupils for weapons and use reasonable force to restrain violent children but delegates at the ATL conference in Liverpool said teachers were only given one and a quarter hours of optional training in how to handle “challenging behaviour”.
Maxine Bradshaw, a representative from North Wales, said one ATL member suffered 17 smashed windows at home, while another had “Paed” scratched into his car door.
She said after her own car was damaged, police offered her the chance to meet the child responsible so they could reflect on their actions and apologise but this proved to be “a waste of time”.
Andrew Shipley, from the Isle of Man, said he and his wife suffered late night phone calls, “sometimes sexually explicit”, from drunken teenagers but was told police could do nothing.
Delegates backed motions calling for better training and guidance on “the use of physical restraint” and a “zero tolerance” approach to violence in schools.
Reader views (6)
My father who was a teacher through part of the 70s, the 80s and the 90s echoed what Steve, Hereford says. Loutish parents tend to back their loutish kids and will verbally abuse teachers in front of their kids if called in to discuss behaviour! Is it any wonder then that kids think they are untouchable and can do no wrong.
My dad said that as laws changed and teachers were not even allowed to touch pupils for fear of a law suit, kids have realised that teachers are powerless to stop them doing what they like and even challenge/goad teachers to hit them or use physical violence.
Although it is regrettable that schools cannot be run without some form of corporal punishment, it is about time teachers were taught to use restraining force on unruly pupils.
- Mcw, London, 08/04/2009 09:11
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Haven't some parents been arrested for using such forceful techniques on their own kids?
- Trunk, US, 08/04/2009 00:57
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Effect: Violent and abusive children.
"Probable" Causes:
A. parents who cannot/do not have proper training on disciplining children, e.g. teenage parents, etc.
B. parents who do not have time for their children.
C. children whose parents are divorced.
D. parents who do not have access to professional help, e.g. child psychologist, etc.
E. parents who fully rely on teachers or government people, e.g. police officers etc., to discipline their children. extra/free babysitting hours, isn't it?
F. children can have their parents arrested if they get hit, probably including a simple slap. children aren't scared of any type of authority anymore.
G. violent media.
H. easy access to alcohol, drugs, knives and/or guns.
- Sylvia, London, 07/04/2009 22:31
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Poor behavior is tolerated in schools, when its challenged parents fail to back up sanctions on their little darlings who can do no wrong. A young primary teacher friend of mine regularly has to put up with abuse from parents who take their child's side when they are sanctioned for poor behavior. Thus a manipulative 8 year old is to be believed instead of a qualified adult professional.
- Steve, Hereford, 07/04/2009 16:08
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Having worked in the old Approved Schools in the 70s and later in mainstream schools I saw a continual decline in respect for teachers . Both Thatcher and the teachers unions have a partial responsibility here . I have given courses on how to avoid conflict in the classroom and this is essential for teachers . Many acts of violence in the classroom against teachers are as a result of ignoring basic rules such as do not attempt to trap an angry child - leave an exit. Local authorities have a responsabilty too - they use failed heads as advisors because they are too scared to sack them. The fact the police dont intervene to support abuse to teachers or pupils is often because they are scared of the politically correct backlash - Many schools ban police officers! After the Bradford riots many schools banned the putting up of posters which identified the leaders and of course we let taggers get away because schools will never identify them although they know who they are. Its a viscious circle and the PC people will never correct that
- Terry, Hennebont France, 07/04/2009 14:57
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Problem - violent and abusive pupils.
Solution - the return of corporal punishment.
Problem - interfering do gooders!
Solution - ignore them!!!
- Andy, London, 07/04/2009 14:27
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