David Higgerson looks at what can be done to stop teachers being attacked
by David Higgerson, Liverpool Daily Post
THERE was a time when teachers were revered, respected and, in the cases of some strict disciplinarians, actually feared by their pupils.
Sadly, as the Daily Post revealed yesterday, those days now appear to be in the dim and distant past for many schools.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that more than 3,500 pupils – more than 10 for every school day – were suspended from the region’s schools for attacking or threatening their teachers in just one year.
They were among 14,760 youngsters given temporary exclusions for bad behaviour in the classroom.
But the figure which shocked teaching unions the most is that more children were suspended for attacking or threatening a teacher than for doing the same to a fellow pupil.
More and more teachers in some schools are even considering their futures in the profession because of the abuse received from the very people they are seeking to prepare for later life.
The government’s new Education Bill makes it clear that head teachers have the power to remove unruly pupils from the classroom, either temporarily or permanently and, where it is necessary, to physically restrain a pupil to prevent injury.
Sentencing guidelines have also been changed to ensure serious punishment follows in courts where appropriate. But some teaching unions are not convinced the measures go far enough.
So, today, the Daily Post asks: Are we doing enough to protect our teachers?
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