HELP US TACKLE PUPIL VIOLENCE
Union says training plan ‘lays blame’ on teachers
A TEACHING union has slammed the Scottish government for ignoring its members’ pleas for help to tackle violence in classrooms.
In a summit on the issue, NASUWT called on ministers to give “unambiguous backing” to schools who wanted to take measures such as expulsions for abusive behaviour.
Instead, the government pledged to deliver more training for staff, which the union blasted as “laying blame” on teachers at the frontline of managing an epidemic of physical attacks.
It comes after the Scottish Government held its first emergency summit on school violence in September last year.
At the time, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth heard first-hand accounts from teachers, unions and child experts.
Mike Corbett, NASUWT national official for Scotland, said: “Our hope was that the summit would be a starting point for real, tangible and lasting culture change in schools in tackling unacceptable pupil behaviour, leading to a sustained reduction in serious incidents and better protection for teachers and pupils from violence and abuse.
“But the main announcement by the Cabinet Secretary after the series of summits – of more training for teachers – seems to lay blame at their door for the behavioural problems of pupils.”
As well as training, the Scottish Government committed to producing an action plan.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Work is well under way to bring forward a joint National Action Plan working with Cosla and unions including NASUWT to set out the range of actions needed at local and national level, which will publish this spring.
“Exclusion continues to be an option available to schools.”
Exclusion continues to be an option available scottish govt spokesperson