IT IS ironic that the behaviour that so frightens teachers now has largely been created by them over the past 40 years when they argued against corporal punishment, grammar schools, sports competitions and the like, and insisted that to reward success was divisive.
The short-term solution is to institute a strict regime in schools that includes the threat of corporal punishment and rewards success in every field. This regime should include compulsory team games and prizes for the best arts, academic and sports performances. Parents should be made responsible for their children’s behaviour and any uninvited intrusion into the classroom should be treated as potential assault. If that means the temporary presence of security guards, so be it.
In the longer term, society must be re-educated to understand that if it is to function properly and everyone is to enjoy it, then some discipline is essential. It must be learnt at home from parents who themselves respect the law and who are rewarded by the success of their children.
John Neimer,
john.neimer@btinternet.com
The middle way
I HAVE run an independent school for boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties for nearly 40 years. All were excluded from mainstream schools but reacted well to our contracts and point systems. They earned rewards and privileges for keeping to classroom rules, and if they missed class they came back later. Praise and respect given to the pupils earned the same for the adults.
We are currently providing information to local authorities regarding our scheme, inclusion through exclusion (INTEX), whereby a child going through 12 months of intensive work with us would then be ready for inclusion.
There is a way without being too hard or too soft.
J. R. Burland,
Chelfham Mill School, Barnstaple
Anything goes
NO ONE must be blamed for anything, you mustn’t offend anyone, mob rule wins, people can do anything they like and children are largely left to fend for themselves. Teaching used to be a highly regarded profession — not any more — and new Labour is still astonished that working-class parents make sacrifices to send their children to private schools. Who can blame them?
Carole Tyrrell,
Beckenham, Kent
As we were
WHEN I was 12 my teacher suddenly got up and pulled me out of the classroom by my hair. When I got outside I thought, “I had that one coming.” The poor man must have warned me at least 20 times in that one lesson to pay attention. I didn’t dare tell my Dad as that would have resulted in another telling off.
The man was later quite apologetic and knew he had overdone it, but we remained on good terms.
Maybe this reaction was a little too violent but the softly-softly touch has never worked. This debate proves it.
Alf Konings,
Maidenhead
Attention deficit
WHEN classrooms are shown on TV children are sitting in groups, sideways or with their backs to the teacher. The rot set in when individual, front-facing desks were removed and children were allowed to sit this way. Perhaps if they sat facing the teacher, not speaking when someone else is talking and not playing or reading comics, they might learn some self-discipline.
Might not the parents of all new pupils be given a list of what is acceptable and the steps which will be taken if the children do not behave, to the point of parent and child attending remedial lessons together?
L. Popiel,
Crawley, West Sussex
A watchful eye
WHY not have every classroom covered by CCTV from primary school onwards? Knowledge that the teacher and the taught are being recorded would become an inherent part of the process. I would think that this would reduce unacceptable behaviour, while highlighting earlier those children (and teachers) who have real problems that need to be addressed more specifically.
Such a process, much cheaper than the suggested security staff, would be inexpensive and easy to instal. A comprehensive pilot system would be worthwhile, and many benefits would ensue, quite apart from better discipline.
Ian McSeveny,
West Kilbridge, Ayrshire
Get real
LIKE Libby Purves (Comment, April 26), I am appalled at what is happening in many of our classrooms and the direction in which things seem to be heading. But where does she think the security staff, and all that would really need to go with them to make the idea a reality, are going to come from? Let’s try to be realistic, please.
Peter Harris,
Crowthorne, Berkshire
Cultural difference
COMING from an Asian background, it is interesting to see how much teachers are respected by immigrant families compared to their white English counterparts. My mother, who was a teacher in a school of mostly Asian children, had the respect of almost all of her children’s parents. My sister, who taught in a school of mostly white middle-class children would constantly be questioned about her discipline and teaching methods. It seemed that, for many, little Johnny or Abigail was above reproach.
We give immense respect to fireman and nurses. But teachers are seen as figures of ridicule. And who would want to teach when faced with constant class disruption, lack of support from parents and management, and the prospect of looking after horrible brats with the threat of legal action if they get the slightest graze or cut?
Raj Singh,
singh69@hotmail.com
System failure
WHY not cut significantly the number of GCSEs and, instead, play to children’s strengths?
Many children do not see the point of doing so many exams and fail to succeed in many subjects. Why not put the money back into a pastoral system? Ofsted is clearly failing; a waste of time and money.
Geoff Winterburn,
Southport
