Plea over abusive pupils
Harsher punishments must be rolled out for pupils who physically or verbally abuse teachers in Renfrewshire schools, a leading union has demanded.
NASUWT Scotland, the teachers’ union is warning that violence and abuse towards teachers is in danger of becoming “normalised” if action is not taken immediately.
It comes one year after the Express revealed that a Renfrewshire teacher is assaulted almost every day of the school year.
A total of 180 violent incidents were recorded at 60 primary and secondary schools in the 2018/ 19 financial year - before the pandemic closed schools across the country.
Of the 180 recorded, 17 took place in secondary schools.
Now NASUWT chiefs are warning that so- called ‘restorative’ approaches to pupil behaviour are eroding teachers’ authority.
The programmes encourage a conversation between the student and teacher to address the poor behaviour in lieu of harsher punishment.
But teachers say that while some reflection is helpful, it must coincide with serious sanctions.
Dr Pat r ick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said: “In too many schools verbal and physical abuse against teachers is going unchallenged.
“While good behaviour management policies encourage pupils to reflect on their own behaviour, they also have in place clear and consistently enforced sanctions for verbal abuse or physical violence and make clear to all pupils that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
“Evidence shows that positive pupil behaviour stems from a whole school approach where management lead and support staff in maintaining good discipline.”
He added: “No teacher should go to work with the expectation that they will be either verbally or physically abused.
“All teachers are entitled to dignity at work and a safe working environment.”
The union is now calling on the Scottish Government to introduce nationwide policies that empower teachers to uphold high standards of discipline in the classroom and ensures harsher punishments are enforced across the country.
A spokesman for the government : “We all want pupils to behave in a respectful manner towards their peers and staff and we have produced guidance for local authorities and schools to prevent exclusions and manage behaviour which they can implement according to local needs and circumstances.”