A leading academic has reignited the debate over the decline in behaviour standards in our schools.
And he points the finger of blame at a combination of an erosion of teachers’ authority in the classroom, an over emphasis on league table performance and a failure to “identify root causes of problems with teenagers’ schooling”.
Professor Frank Furedi of the University of Kent makes the claims in his new book – Wasted: Why Education Isn’t Educating – in which he delivers a damning report on the major issues impacting on our schools.
Professor Furedi claims “society needs to take a reality check to decide what it wants from the teaching profession” and appeals for an “open conversation” between generations in order to remedy a broad spectrum of issues.
His calls come amid a backdrop of increasing concerns from teachers who say they are powerless to effectively control their classrooms as pupils go unpunished by schools’ senior management and a lack of respect for authority figures.
Hundreds within the profession across the county have reported suffering stress as a direct result of a culture in which disruptive pupils routinely swear, throw materials and verbally abuse teachers without fear of consequences.
John Walder is the secretary of the Kent National Union of Teachers. He said school discipline continued to be a “very significant issue”.
He said: “I have hundreds of teacher cases to deal with and a large percentage of those will be of our members complaining of stress related to dealing with behaviour problems.
“Children who do not conform to schools’ codes of conduct need to know there are consequences- schools should expect children to obey them. But I have had many teachers tell me that pupils have been allowed to get away with outrageous behaviour without anything being done about it.
“Rules need to be enforced - but often if children are sent out of a classroom they are not disciplined by senior staff who are unable to see them.”
He revealed many teachers were simply expected to deal with behaviour problems without backup from senior colleagues. In addition he believed that with the advent of league tables, schools were becoming “increasingly consumerised” in which parents are increasingly referred to as customers.
This has led to situation where teachers are reluctant to raise behavioural issues with parents at term-time meetings as the government sets tough targets on measures of excluding pupils.
Mr Walder added: “There has been a change in general attitudes over the last few decades and there is no doubt that children today are far less respectful towards teachers, with many of them finding this extremely difficult to cope with.
“Schools should be prepared to develop strategies to deal with this including ‘internal exclusion’ of pupils. Simply expelling pupils to other schools just moves the problem somewhere else.”
In addition, Mr Walder also believed that teachers were being excessively monitored by Ofsted, which he felt was impacting on their ability to get on with their jobs.
Meanwhile, Kent County Council’s managing director for children, families and education, Rosalind Turner, said: “Frank Furedi raises some interesting issues in his new book. The topics will be debated in staff rooms, governors’ meetings and beyond.
“The behaviour of children and young people is a regular talking point. If you look beyond the headlines that appear from time to time, the vast majority are well behaved and well mannered.
“Schools have a vital role to play in this. Not only are they educating children in the classroom but are preparing them for adult life and all that entails. This supports the efforts of families in the home.
“Politics and education is a double-edged sword. Because of its standing on the political agenda, it benefits from significant investment. That investment comes with scrutiny too.
“Education will always command interest and debate. The very future of our country depends on the next generation coming through. Here in Kent we are committed to making sure every young person leaves school having achieved their full potential.
“I would like to extend an invitation to Mr Furedi to come and discuss his book with headteachers, school governors and KCC representatives. He would find a very receptive audience who share his passion for education and the future of our children and young people.”
POSTED: 10/10/2009 14:00:00
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