Spare the rod…

At long last, teachers’ voices are being heard and the havoc wreaked by behavioural problems is being exposed (Your report, 19 October).

While some children do indeed lack the capacity to be taught to behave themselves, there is a much larger group that currently cause mayhem that could be brought into line with firm discipline.

While teachers experience extremes of insolence, disobedience and even assault from pupils, Education Scotland persists in its campaign to minimise punishments in schools. They insist that every misdemeanour be treated as the result of an underlying emotional cause, requiring counselling, not punish-

ment. This simple mistake of failing to recognise moral responsibility leads to a soft and indulgent therapeutic regime under which the rebellious and vindictive are given free reign.

Educated into this extreme “progressive” approach, younger teachers often do not even consider the application of stern disciplinary measures as a solution to the problem. Assuming that appalling behaviour is a given, the only solution is to call in reinforcements to help quell the class.

Obedience to valid authority, civility and self-control are vital character traits. We fail our children if we fail to instil them.

RICHARD LUCAS Leader, Scottish Family Party,

Bath Street, Glasgow