Parents ‘abuse staff over their unruly children’
THE departing headmistress of a girls’ secondary school has slammed parents who support their child’s bad behaviour.
Louise McGowan – who is leaving Walderslade Girls’ School in Chatham, Kent, this summer – criticised the lack of respect for rules among some children.
But she is particularly outraged at parents who abuse teachers for trying to enforce discipline. ‘We have noticed a huge increase in parents arguing against the school,’ said Mrs McGowan, who took over five years ago.
‘When a child does something wrong they will text their parents and their parents immediately jump on side of the child. [They] sometimes start arguing and saying it is the staff’s fault.
‘It completely undermines teaching authority. I would like parents to recognise that they have a role in disciplining their child and instilling rules.’
Mrs McGowan, whose academy school is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, sent a letter to parents about behaviour. While some locals criticised the move, others agreed that ‘rules are there for a reason’.