Resistance is futile. ~~ The Borg

The following appeared in London’s Daily Mail on February 6^th:

New teachers lack the training to handle violence in the classroom, survey reveals

Nearly half of new teachers have not been given enough training to deal with violence in the classroom, a survey showed today. Figures also suggest two-thirds of newly qualified teachers have received no clear guidance on restraining violent students. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), which carried out the survey, has called for such training to be made compulsory.

Unruly: School children fighting in the classroom. (Posed by models)

Ok. Timeout. Did you read the caption on the above photo? I didn’t write that. I offer wonder if copywriters have a sense of humor. I may start adding “(Posed by models)” to all my family photographs.

According to the union, 49 per cent of newly-qualified teachers and probationers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland felt they had not had enough training to deal with challenging behaviour. One in five said they had been provided with clear guidance on restraining violent pupils, with nearly 30 per cent saying they had not yet covered this area of the job in their training. Guidance by the Department for Children, Schools and Families lists the types of force teachers can use on children.

Which is more terrifying, the Orwellian “Department for Children, Schools and Families” or the Brit’s spelling of behavior?

It can include passive physical contact such as blocking a pupil's path and active contact such as leading a pupil by the hand or arm.

Ooooooohhhh, not the hand or arm! I attended Kindergarten and half of first grade at a parochial school before Mama Jones gave me the yank but I distinctly remember a rumor that the principal, the sinister Mr. Cadwell, had a paddle in his office which he used on the naughtiest of the children. I have, to this day, no clue whether it was true or not. We used to ask kids who got sent to the principal’s office if they saw the paddle, and if they got spanked. Fact is, I doubt he ever did paddle anyone. But he might have…

In more extreme circumstances, 'appropriate restrictive holds, which may require specific expertise or training', may be used, it says.

VULCAN DEATH GRIP!

ATL says the problem with the official guidance is that teachers are not clear on how to interpret it. Sharon Liburd, from the ATL, told the BBC: 'These violent confrontations can erupt very very quickly, they [teachers] need to be clear about what sort of steps they can take to try to stop the situation from escalating, if they have to physically intervene and how, in fact, they do that.' But National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Mick Brookes said there was no need for compulsory training in schools because many never saw a violent incident. The ATL surveyed 1,001 of its members across the UK.

Administration v. Teacher’s Union, surely this didn’t have anything to do with the problem at hand, did it?

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said new teachers were given support to ensure they had the skills they needed and said the Government's 'behaviour tsar' Sir Alan Steer had noted progress in pupils' conduct across Britan.

He said: 'Good behaviour and an atmosphere of respect should be the norm in all schools. 'In his recent review, Sir Alan Steer said that behaviour standards have improved and are good in the majority of schools. 'We are determined to tackle poor behaviour and raise overall behaviour standards - that is why we have given schools clearer and stronger powers than ever before to ensure good school discipline.'

I would like to thank Sir Tsar Steer for wrapping this up in a neat bow, “that is why we have given schools clearer and stronger powers than ever before to ensure good school discipline.” So here’s my dilemma, I really think the schools, both over there and here, handicap themselves by being squishy, touchy feely, ultra PC. As many of the commenters noted, it was Educators and Child Development Professionals who eradicated corporal punishment. So reap the whirlwind and all that.

On the other hand, I’m pretty sure I wouldn't want Sir Tsar Steer spanking my kids, if you know what I mean. So where does that leave us? I’m going to go ahead and say parental responsibility.

AND VULCAN DEATH GRIP!!

In a totally unrelated, absolutely coincidental article via Drudge: Girl, 6, Handcuffed, Committed Because Of Classroom Behavior