Pupils ‘using bad language and vaping in school loos’
PUPILS in Carmarthenshire have been reportedly using offensive language and vaping in school toilets during lessons.
Now a joint effort has been launched in Carmarthenshire to improve the behaviour of its secondary school pupils.
Across Wales, many teachers have shared experiences of witnessing a deterioration in some pupils’ behaviour since returning to formal education after the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Examples of such behaviour include using offensive language with classmates and teachers, being rude in lessons and vaping in toilets during lessons.
The new initiative is between Carmarthenshire Council and Carmarthenshire Association of Secondary Headteachers (Cash) and aims to remedy the situation.
Pupils and teachers from all the county’s schools attended a session at County Hall in Carmarthen and a cross-section of comments was recorded and used to create a video that is part of the campaign.
Some of the comments included highlight concerns such as vaping and bad language now being seen as a “cool thing” to do. While another commented they were “genuinely really scared for the generation coming through”.
The video will be shown in all Carmarthenshire secondary schools this month and will be shared on social media.
Information on the campaign posters and banners will direct pupils to sources where they can get further advice about the importance of improving behaviour.
On behalf of Cash, James Durbridge said: “As teachers, we understand that there are sometimes complex reasons behind pupils’ misbehaviour and, without a doubt, we want to support those pupils.
“But as the title of the campaign video explains – our behaviour affects everyone and everything.
“A teacher cannot teach and a pupil cannot learn in a class when a minority behaves offensively and without respect.
“The behaviour of our pupils today influences their tomorrow.”
Noting that the campaign is an opportunity to press the reset button on behaviour and establish better habits, Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire Council cabinet member for education and the Welsh language, said: “Our aim in Carmarthenshire is to create young people who, after being educated here, create a life here and contribute to our community.
“Offering them the best possible guidance on how to behave in a way that gives them the best chance to succeed in life is our duty as an authority.”