I don't have to, how would you ?

difficult to say as the teacher can't fight back or punish only be expelling or suspension. i think they should be allowed to hit them to be honest, but on;y in severe cases.

A pupil who assaults a teacher (or indeed a teacher who assaults a child) should be straight out of the school - it just isn't acceptable. As I don't have to face the "little darlings" until Tuesday, I don't think I'll comment any further! *trying not to think about going back to work*

If a child does assault a teacher a lot of the time IMHO it is done under the assumption that the teacher cannot or isn't allowed to retaliate, which is wrong. If that was taken away and teachers were given free reign to retaliate as they saw fit if assaulted first, methinks the number of attacks would diminish quite rapidly.

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by Sweet-Sange
how would you ?

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Are you sure you aren't Whistler in disguise?

There was a teacher on the radio last week who had retired early after having her nose broken by a pupil and who had suffered post traumatic stress.

When asked if the pupil should be subject to legal action, she said only if it would help that child deal with their rage and issues more effectively.

It struck me as being a particularly compassionate sentiment and set me to wondering hence the question.

I would punish the parents. It's a parents job to bring up their children, not a teachers.

If they havent taught their child to respect teachers they need to be punished in the hope they will stop their children doing it again.

This also applies to truancy and other offences children commit out of school. Obviously differing severity of sentences depending on the childs crime.

EG. for truancy give communkity service or a fine.

For assult give a brief jail sentence

for theft (one hightly publicised case has a boy who the courts cant touch but he's stolen dozens of cars) I'd make the parents responsible for paying the insurance companies back and jail them briefly is they default.

I dare say a few more parents wouldnt let their children get away with so much if they thought they themselves would be punished.

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by Incandenza


Are you sure you aren't Whistler in disguise?

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/me checks ....... nope

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There was a teacher on the radio last week who had retired early after having her nose broken by a pupil and who had suffered post traumatic stress.

When asked if the pupil should be subject to legal action, she said only if it would help that child deal with their rage and issues more effectively.

It struck me as being a particularly compassionate sentiment and set me to wondering hence the question.

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Thank- you for explaining as I wasn't sure what angle you were coming from.

No teacher, classroom assistant or any person working with children should have to put up with being assulted. I think to be honest it's a very hard question to answer. No child should get away with being able to assult someone "just" because their a child.
It's funny because I was having this conversation with someone the other day, with regards to Child Criminals and the extent the law can and cannot deal with them ( although this I feel is another topic ).

When I was at school if a child misbehaved then they would get a "slipper" "cane" etc etc, pupils seemed to have more respect for their teachers. In todays society even a parent is frowned apon for using any form of physical punishment to their child ( a smack never harmed me I have to add ). I don't know what the answer is do we go back to the "old" days?

The fact teachers arn't allowed to touch a pupil now leads to a varity of problems from the simple total out breaks of nits ( as no teacher is allowed to check a pupils hair ) to what I spoke about in a previous topic where my 6 year old son was able to run away from school because the teachers told me "we can't physicaly stop him".

Where we go from here and how we solve the problems I have no idea, I just hope that something is done

The teachers response in this particular case was correct and right on the mark. *Whatever* helps the kids is a good thing, whether that be increasing the budget to get them more help (made myself giggle there!) or legal action and a a juvenile sentence.

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by Sweet-Sange
The fact teachers arn't allowed to touch a pupil now leads to a varity of problems from the simple total out breaks of nits ( as no teacher is allowed to check a pupils hair )

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I am in charge of 'nit patrol' in my school. It is widely known by the parents, and because of that it is accepted by them (even if they don't like it when I send their kids home!)

I also took a short course two years ago on the acceptable way to 'restrain' a child. It is considered fine for a teacher to do this if it becomes necessary, it involves no physical harm to the child, and is effective. It has so far worked when needed in my school.

I think much of this depends on the school and it's own internal rules. We have problems with nits and we have problems with certain children. We deal with them the best we can, and in the way we are told is allowed and the parents accept that. But there's always an element of fear involved, which makes the job that much more difficult.

I haven't been *attacked* as such, my kids being only year two, but I have been spat and sworn at, stabbed with various objects and have had many items of classroom furniture thrown at me. The worry is not how to *deal* with them, but how to *help* them realise this behaviour is unacceptable.

And that's my job.

Wish my kids went to you school hun ...... can we all move up

Not sure about this one itself but in general i think they bring back caning or allow ing smacking at home. They both scared the hell outta me when i was young so i didnt get in any trouble.

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by Biff
Not sure about this one itself but in general i think they bring back caning or allow ing smacking at home. They both scared the hell outta me when i was young so i didnt get in any trouble.

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Have to admit, when I was at school, the threat of capital punishment was enough for a lot of kids to behave.

But then, a lot of kids who were always in trouble just saw it as an 'occupational hazard' and it didn't act as a deterrent at all.

So, not really sure this is the way to punish or deter pupils from assaulting school staff to be honest.

Discipline in schools should be much stricter and although i wouldn't support the reintroduction of caning, i think Teachers have every right to physically defend themselves against physical attack.

Teach them some manners. A basic quality missing from a lot of people these days.

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by Whistler
Have to admit, when I was at school, the threat of capital punishment was enough for a lot of kids to behave.

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I really, really, really hope you mean corporal punishment.


I'm not sure about all this talk of teachers being allowed to 'retaliate' to an assault. I don't see how punching the kid in the nose is going to help anyone. Much more sensible is restraining, as described by Red. Although, from my experience, one of the biggest fears a teacher faces is the threat of being accused of molestation and this is the biggest barrier to any physical contact. I believe that at least one of the Unions advises its members not to touch any student. Ever. The argument being that the current legal set-up favours the pupil in any such accusation. I have known primary school teachers scared of hugging a crying seven year old for this reason.

As for physical punishment (caning et al), I can't approve of this. It reinforces the idea that 'might is right'. It says that you must do as you are told because I can hurt you more than you can hurt me. It teaches kids it's OK to bully. It doesn't help the child deal with whatever issues lead to the behaviour in the first place, and that has to be every teacher's primary concern.

So, I guess I'd argue for the use of physical restraint, placing the child on a behavioural problems list for monitoring and special attention/lessons, with the option to relocate to another school at the discretion of the school, but not mandatorily. Most of which I believe is the current set-up. I don't think the systems wrong, but the application is not always as smooth as it could be.

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by Jayjay
(quotes)

I really, really, really hope you mean corporal punishment.

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Ooops

Yes, I meant 'Corporal'. Or did I.....?

I've never really had to deal with a violent pupil, only having taught years 1 and 2 - apart from the usual being sworn at and kicked etc - but how can you get angry with being treated like this by a clearly disturbed and utterly miserable 5 year old?
In my experience, the most frightening encounters have been with aggressive parents. Not being very good at confrontation generally, I found it difficult to come to terms with being backed up against a wall and sworn at inches from my face over something as insignificant as a missing sweatshirt.
Poor kids, they don't stand a chance with parents like these.

Anyway, I've just handed my notice in after taking very *extended* maternity leave and am now seriously doubting whether I'll ever return to the profession....