Work Accident CompensationTeaching staff and administrators are hit, kicked, punched and subjected to taunts and threats virtually every day they go to work, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference was told.
In fact, the number of assaults reported to the union has more than doubled in five years. Most teachers, however are reluctant to report incidents as reporting such incidents could reflect poorly on the school delegates.
Teacher Jovan Trkulja stated that said children jostling teachers in corridors was an everyday occurrence. He told the conference in Gateshead that he had had a brick thrown at him when students passed by on a bus and that he had once been pushed over by a "braying mob" of teenagers.
"We must say that violence will not be tolerated. If you go on a bus or a train, there are signs saying that assaults on staff are not tolerated. Why is it that violence on education staff is so easily perpetrated?" He also added that staff was pressured to not report incidents for fear that the school's reputation would suffer.
Now, the ATL appears to be fighting back. In January of 2001, it took legal action over 14 assaults on members compared to January of this year when it filed legal action on 39 incidents.
The age of the offenders is getting younger and younger as well. Primary school teacher Lesley Ward stated that children as young as five were exhibiting signs and actions of violence.
Ms. Ward stated "It's not fine. It's not right. There's a growing number of children who don't want to learn or behave, but want to disrupt and be the centre of attention and some teachers simply cannot cope."
Attendees at the ATL conference took another step beyond rhetoric and voted to hold parent in account for the actions of their children, especially focusing on pupils who were bullying one another outside of school.
Teacher Alison Sharratt cited a "much more physical aggression" developing among children" exposed to violent films and computer games as one key reason for the escalation in violence, while Adrian Petty, from Hertfordshire, said mobile phones and computer message boards had increased scope for bullying.
Every motion that had to do with assaults on staff and bullying were passed unanimously.
Schools Minister Jacqui Smith said: "Respect for teachers' authority should be the norm in all schools and we support a 'zero tolerance' approach to any form of bad behaviour including low level disruption.
"We have listened to heads and teachers on the expert Steer group, and worked with the professional associations to deliver a new legal right to discipline in the Education Bill.
"This will send a strong message to parents and pupils that a culture of disrespect and failure to take responsibility will not be tolerated."
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