School anarchy is down to parents

■ I completely understand teachers threatening to walk out over the violence of some pupils and the lack of punishment given to them (Mirror, April 22).

The problem is the teachers have their hands tied and the so-called Teflon kids know this and make the most of it.

This is not a new phenomenon – it’s been going on for over 30 years, but it is getting worse. My son was the victim of a school bully and when I confronted the teacher she admitted they couldn’t directly punish him, but were building a case against him. It took a year before he was expelled.

Teachers have my sympathy because they’re often battling parents who don’t want anything done to their ‘little darlings’.

Ian Verdon, Watford, Herts

■ Teachers are absolutely justified in expressing their concerns about pupils who commit acts of physical violence in the classroom. The fact children are displaying such wanton aggression is quite disturbing.

It’s plainly not helped that so many violent images can be seen by youngsters in video games and on TV.

In my view, teachers are having to bear the consequences of society’s tolerance of violence as so-called entertainment. Mike Smith Chatham, Kent

■ The authorities, including teaching unions, are to blame for the increase in violent pupils because for years they haven’t taken it seriously.

Unruly and undisciplined pupils were described as ‘vulnerable’, but now we have a situation were we have teachers threatening to walk out en masse because schools won’t deal with pupil violence.

Is it any wonder we have a shortage of teachers?

Ian Brown, Feltham, Gtr London

■ What’s this country coming to when we have teachers threatening industrial action because violent kids are making their lives hell and the schools won’t do anything about it?

I blame the parents. It’s their job to teach kids right from wrong, but many can’t be bothered or just don’t care. These kids need to be dealt with firmly because they won’t just go away. Catherine Jones Newcastle upon Tyne

■ Reading about the ‘Teflon kids’, I wonder why anyone signs up to be a teacher these days when they are likely to be sworn at, spat at or even be subjected to physical assault. It’s time to stop cosseting these unruly kids and make them responsible for their actions. This is all learnt behaviour, so God knows what their home lives are like.

Anthony Martin, Louth, Lincs

■ We need to bring back discipline into schools to solve the problem of ‘Teflon kids’. In fact, we need to bring back tougher punishments for society’s wrongdoers in general.

Malcolm Dove, via email

■ The problem of teachers facing violence in our schools is not new. It’s happening because undisciplined kids and their parents know they can get away with it. Colin Hemmings, Harlow, Essex