Teachers in fear of pupils

CLASSROOMS are turning into war zones with one in 10 teachers injured by pupils in the last year.

Nearly one-third of tutors have experienced “physical aggression” from one of their charges, according to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL). Almost all of a group of 830 teachers surveyed reported problems.

The survey also shows knife crime has spread to classrooms, as 3.3 per cent of pupils who attacked a teacher used a knife. Two-thirds of teachers attacked were punched and almost half were kicked. ATL general secretary Mary Bousted said: “No teacher should have to tolerate these levels of poor pupil behaviour and certainly no-one should be attacked. Not only is poor behaviour driving teaching staff away at an alarming rate – 65 per cent have considered leaving as a consequence – it is also damaging the chances of other pupils during lessons.”

The union is to call on ministers to do more to make parents and pupils take responsibility for bad behaviour.
Evelyn Gothard, a secondary school teacher from Hampshire, said children “play up frequently” because they know teachers’ hands are tied. “In the past two years we have only successfully permanently excluded one pupil,” she said.
Jean Roberts, a primary school teacher from London, said: “I have permanent marks where I have been kicked.”
In one case in Scotland last year, a pupil filmed a “happy-slapping” attack on his headmaster.

There was an outcry in 2006 when a pupil who broke his teacher’s cheekbone got just 12 months community punishment. Dexter Hungwa, then 16, attacked Liz Jones when she asked him to close a door.

Government statistics show more than 70,000 schoolchildren who assaulted teachers or other pupils were allowed back in the classroom in 2006. In that year, teachers were awarded around £25million in compensation for attacks by pupils and parents, stress and accidents.

The ATL says bad behaviour is also taking its toll on teachers’ mental health, with one in three suffering problems and stress. Almost one in 10 has taken leave because of intimidation, while 12 per cent saw a doctor.
A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said: “Good behaviour and respect for staff should be the norm. In the vast majority of cases, it is.”

And parents shouldn't smack their children???