Teachers to strike over violence

[Section_31]

Echo

ABOUT 50 teachers at a Liverpool school are set to walk out amid claims of attacks, vandalism and rowdy behaviour from pupils.

The ECHO can reveal that “under siege” staff at New Heys Comprehensive will go through with the industrial action unless their demands over pupil behaviour are met.

Today headteacher Ann Stahler insisted her school’s stance on discipline was working with incidents on the slide since September.

But defiant union officials insist if the Heath Road, Allerton, school does not budge then its members (two-thirds of the teaching staff) will walk out and the city will have its first school strike for more than 20 years.

Julie Lyon-Taylor, the city’s NUT national executive member, said: “Our teachers are not being protected.”

She said the union had organised the strike as a “last resort” after 12 months negotiations claiming:

Teachers complain weekly of attacks, bad behaviour and vandalism by pupils.

Four members of staff had resigned since the start of term without finding new jobs “as they’d simply had enough”.

Pupils had threatened to damage teachers’ cars.

The school lacks clear behavioural policy and rules on mobile phones and mp3 players.

Ms Lyon-Taylor added: “I’m picking up messages on a weekly basis about our members being assaulted as well as threats to damage their cars.”

She added: “Part of the problem of pupils’ behaviour is staff feel like they are being blamed by the way they are observed in lessons by three managers armed with clip boards.

“I know four members have resigned this term alone. Striking is a last resort but the protection of staff and pupils is our prime concern.”

Ms Stahler said: “The observation of lessons is to improve the education of the children and replicate our success as a business and enterprise centre of excellence across all other departments.

“We introduced a new behaviour policy approved by staff last September and since then the number of incidents of aggressive behaviour has reduced.

“No teaching staff have left because of stress, it is usually because they are promoted and poached by other schools.”

She added CCTV had cut out vehicle vandalism and there was no evidence pupils were the culprits.

The union was due to have last ditch talks with the school this afternoon.

If nothing is resolved today the teachers will strike later this month.

My mate is a business teacher in Leigh and did a lot of supply work early doors, some of the stories I've heard regarding discipline made me spit my beer out.

He was helping out with a PE lesson in The Parklands in Speke (formerly Speke Comp but rebranded under specila measures) and the PE Teachers was giving him some tips, he said: 'Some of them like to go home early, if any of them walk off just leave them, it's not worth the hassle.'

Now working in Leigh, he told me the school spent part of its media budget on a PS3(!) and when a schoolgirl started listening to music on the net during an IT lesson a teacher said: 'I'll let you listen to it on your headphones if you do your work'

IMO We should do what the Chinese do and make school kids do exactly what they're fucking told, end of.

My instructor's son teaches Hong Kong schoolkids, and by the age of 12 they're all well on their way to learning four languages and playing a classical instrument, also in two years he's never even had so much as a kid talk back to him.

[Anny Road]

Originally Posted by Section_31

Echo




IMO We should do what the Chinese do and make school kids do exactly what they're fucking told, end of.

My instructor's son teaches Hong Kong schoolkids, and by the age of 12 they're all well on their way to learning four languages and playing a classical instrument, also in two years he's never even had so much as a kid talk back to him.

Ive heard the same but ask them to be creative and they are stumped.

[hamstrung]

Bring back the birch, I say.

[Section_31]

I genuinely feel sorry for the teachers.

The government strips them of powers, thigs get out of control and then they say: 'Oh wait, you can grab kids now if they're fighting, and in fact why don't you search them for knives while you'r off duty?'


Policy-making in Britian resembles a drunk driver, swinging wildly left then wildly right, never quite getting it in the centre.

[Paul]

The root of the issue in that school is not the kids, society, the law or the teachers; it's the poor leadership at the top. Put the right headteacher in place and it'll turn around. It may be a painful transition, but it will happen. Schools like that need clear and visible leadership with a head who can do everything she's asking her colleagues to do - and more. That head will end up going, in my opinion. She's obviously lost the dressing room.

Kids dont have discipline these days, plain and simple. They're not taught respect anymore. Teachers can't even grab their arm to stop them walking away. Before they know it the students complained, the parents are up the school and suddenly the teachers in shit. Seen it when I was at school and that was before this new generation of sprogs that dont care about a thing.

It's all wrong, totaly and utterly wrong. Schools and their heirachy can make all the rules they want, these nuggets these day will go all out to break them.

IMO it's kids and their upbringing that has to take a huge chunk of the blame, some schools do need a kick up the arse, but like I said, schools can make all the rules want want....

[NIred1]

Kids basically have more balls these days, I can remember clearly being in my garden around the age of seven playin footie. When the big school got out me and my mates would hide in my house until they went past, but for some reason when i was that age I got wee shites acting the big man constantly. theres no justice

[Redexile]

Originally Posted by NIred1

Kids basically have more balls these days, I can remember clearly being in my garden around the age of seven playin footie. When the big school got out me and my mates would hide in my house until they went past, but for some reason when i was that age I got wee shites acting the big man constantly. theres no justice

Nope it's not that at all. From a distance all I see is schools that can't enforce regulations because the kids parents don't seem to give a shite and fuckin 'ell you better not be telling me my son/daughter are unteachable and have an attitude problem. How can kids respect their teachers if they have no respect for their parents. Also seems to be a culture of hero worship for kids who are the king of the twats or have asbo's against their names.
We have our problems over here with a creeping spread of drug abuse but in general the kids here want to go to school and achieve good results to go on to Uni or Technikon. Fuck around too much here and you are out the door.

[Paul]

Found out today that a friend of a friend works at this gaff. I'll try and get the inside story.

[Captain]

Originally Posted by Redexile

How can kids respect their teachers if they have no respect for their parents.

Because respect is something you earn. I've worked a bit in Norwegian schools a couple of years ago, so I know the problem first hand.

If you want to be a teacher, you need to be able to exert authority. Unfortunately, many teachers aren't. They just aren't fit to do their jobs.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Captain

Because respect is something you earn. I've worked a bit in Norwegian schools a couple of years ago, so I know the problem first hand.

If you want to be a teacher, you need to be able to exert authority. Unfortunately, many teachers aren't. They just aren't fit to do their jobs.

Very true. However, there needs to be the right ethos in place before a teacher can do so. That comes from the top. Shit schools always have at least some good teachers on their books, but they never have good leaders. Great leadership, as in any field, lifts the shite to satisfactory, the satisfactory to good and the good to excellent. Those who were already excellent are then encouraged to help raise everyone else up to their level.

[Stouffer]

The best teachers I had at school never shouted or ranted. They were funny, intelligent and interested.

They always had (made) time for you and I respected them for it.

Others appeared not to give a rats and they had the most hassle.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Stouffer

The best teachers I had at school never shouted or ranted. They were funny, intelligent and interested.

They always had (made) time for you and I respected them for it.

Others appeared not to give a rats and they had the most hassle.

Kerching!!! If you like children and show them respect and discipline, they'll behave - even if they're feral little twats who'd chin a copper as soon as look at him.

I've said it loads of times, but if you like kids, it can be your vocation. However, if you don't, it can be a daily hell. The problem is that some people (thnkfully not too many) will put themselves (and the kids) through that in order to have a decent wage and great fucking holidays.

[Captain]

Originally Posted by Paul

Very true. However, there needs to be the right ethos in place before a teacher can do so. That comes from the top. Shit schools always have at least some good teachers on their books, but they never have good leaders.

Last thing first, totally agree that shit schools don't have great leaders. I disagree on it coming from the top, at least necessarily.

I went to a school were my head teacher(?), I mean the teacher in charge of my class, was in constant conflict with the leadership of the school. He was because he was young and brought new ideas. 95% of my class loved him because he was our pal, just as much as he was our boss. And I mean BOSS, he didn't take any shit from anyone, not that I can recall any of that lads (let's face it, it's the lads who) give it a try.

I have always had an issue with injustice, and I totally blew a gasket when he once pulled me up on something I didn't do. I was 14 and swung a heavy punch at his head, luckily he swerved. He didn't put me into any shit for it, never even told my parents. He did pull me aside the next day and we talked it over. I agreed I was in the wrong to swing at him, he admitted that he might have been wrong about the issue at hand. He has had my utmost respect from that day.

My class ate substitute teachers for breakfast, and more than once our head teacher(?) had to sort us out. I'll never forget that time we sent a woman crying from our classroom. I was one of the main culprits, terrorizing her with the reflection of a ruler. The moment she left the classroom everyone, myself included, regretted our actions because we knew we'd behaved like shitheads. 75 seconds after she left, our head teacher(?) was in the classroom. I swear, not a single bastard looked at him, we just stared at our desks.

He asked if anyone had any pressing to say. Needless to say, utter silence ensued. He the told us he expected us to be quiet for the rest of the class. We were so totally ashamed of ourselves and the way he had put us in our place, the female substitute teacher struggled to get any answers even at direct questions.

That teacher ruled our class. Norwegian schools need more of his kind. He made it clear from day one that he was the boss, and fuck me did he live up to it.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Captain

Last thing first, totally agree that shit schools don't have great leaders. I disagree on it coming from the top, at least necessarily.

I went to a school were my head teacher(?), I mean the teacher in charge of my class, was in constant conflict with the leadership of the school. He was because he was young and brought new ideas. 95% of my class loved him because he was our pal, just as much as he was our boss. And I mean BOS