Morning:
8°c
Head shook pupils for not doing homework
Peter Dominiczak11 Sep 2009
A primary school headteacher who shook two pupils who failed to do their homework has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
Kanta Riley, the former head of Beaconsfield Primary in Southall, was given a reprimand by a General Teaching Council committee.
The panel found Mrs Riley guilty of five allegations of misconduct, but cleared her of six other charges.
Mrs Riley, who did not attend the hearing, was found to have shaken Pupil F and Pupil G by the arm or arms in 2005, and to have required Pupil H to remove and remain without shoes for part of the school day in 2003.
The panel also found Mrs Riley had required other pupils to remove and remain without shoes and had threatened to put soap in pupils' mouths.
Panel chairman Derek Johns said: "Mrs Riley admitted that on occasions she would tell a child that his or her mouth needed to be washed out when the child was using abusive language.
"No evidence was presented to the effect that soap was actually used."
The panel cleared Mrs Riley of referring to Pupil B and Pupil C as "thieves and liars", failing to pass on child protection information and failing to deal with a cockroach infestation.
Mr Johns added: "We find that Mrs Riley's conduct was behaviour which involved a breach of the standards of propriety expected."
The panel said it regarded holding and shaking pupils as serious, although it accepted the removal of children's shoes was intended to deter kicking.
But Mr Johns added: "It was nevertheless a practice which could lead to children being demeaned."
Giving evidence, Monica Anand, who taught at Beaconsfield in 2005, described the alleged shaking of pupils G and F as violent and unacceptable.
Mrs Anand said she had also seen three children holding their shoes.
She added: "The boys were very embarrassed and ashamed."
Reader views (2)
FORGET the child being demeaned! if only we had more teachers like her then perhaps we wouldn't have the problems that we have. Too softly, softly approach these days, that's the problem. Not too long ago, you respected teachers, never swore in front of an elder and def made sure your homework was done. If the teacher complained, then you would be scared of your parents finding out. Now, they don't seem to give a damn.
- Jk, London, 11/09/2009 16:36
Report abuse
When I was in primary school, back in the early 80's, children were disciplined with caines and a slipper and we all truned out fine. Now you can't touch them, hence the problems with our youth today, no repsect for anyone or anything. Just look at the pensioner that weas killed by school kids...
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 11/09/2009 15:31
Report abuse
