Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Teacher attacks revealed
MORE than half of Dundee’s teachers have been physically assaulted while at work, a union has found.
The Dundee branch of Scotland’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), surveyed its members on the violent and aggressive behaviour they had experienced.
The initial findings revealed that more than half of respondents had been physically assaulted, while a further 91% said they had been verbally abused by pupils.
Verbal and physical violence towards staff also appears to be an issue at pre-school level and a separate survey canvassing nursery staff – again carried out by the Dundee EIS branch – found all of the respondents had been physically assaulted at work.
Initial results also showed a further 86% of nursery staff said they had experienced verbal abuse.
Both surveys raise questions over the amount of support offered to staff who experience abuse at work, with 86% of teachers saying they felt Dundee City Council had offered no help to them.
Similarly, 71% of nursery staff also felt unsupported by the council.
Councillor Georgia Cruickshank, education spokeswoman for Labour, said she was alarmed by the findings of the survey and called on the council to do more to support those who have been affected.
She said: “I think it’s disgraceful that any teacher should have to put up with any kind of abuse.
“Nobody goes to work to be abused.
“I’m sure through the EIS union, they will provide support to the members and I would expect the council do to the same.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor Fraser Macpherson, who represents the West End ward in the city, said: “I can only speak for my own local area but I would say that schools take these matters exceptionally seriously.
“I would hope that any member of staff who has been subject to that would report it and I would expect that the children and family service would actively help them and investigate each and every report.”
The long-serving Liberal Democrat councillor also offered his praise to those who had carried on working with young people during the pandemic and argued that this was all the more reason for teachers to be well supported when dealing with abusive behaviour.
Responding to the findings of the survey, Dundee City Council said it will work with the EIS to address the issues raised.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “Teachers are encouraged to report any incident that they regard as violent and we will work closely with them to offer support.
“All incidents are treated extremely seriously.
“Schools also take the appropriate action against pupils where this is necessary.
“We discuss these issues regularly with the trade unions and will be looking closely at the contents of this survey.
“We are aware that this is a matter which is also considered at a national level.”