Teacher almost kills pupil during class

[Adam Stone]

Just to add... I didn't mean to say teachers are as equal to blame as parents, I apologize for saying that and I don't believe it... but the too many teachers who don't do their jobs properly aren't helping matters either :-)

A good teacher, by and large, can keep a class together (even the most troubling classes) and teach a lesson. I've seen the same class go from sitting down doing their work with one teacher, to going absolutely crazy and throwing chairs and smashing tables in the next class purely because the students had absolutely no respect for the teacher. The moment another teacher walks in, they all sit and quiet down, only to continue the moment said teacher walks off. It's often just a game to them!

[prinnysquad]

There are always going to be students who go beyond the boundaries and unfortunately there isn't a whole lot that can be done. But on a general picture, teacher's who stick to the sanctions in place will, on the most part, earn respect. Obviously there will be those who continue to push the boundaries further and further, but if that happens they should be permanently expelled. If not why are those sanctions there in the first place? Sadly though schools and colleges aren?t often inclined to expel student?s because they need to keep the numbers up to receive certain funding. I?ve even seen lectures faking signatures and boosting grades purely for the records.

I agree with you wholeheartedly aboout good disciplinarians. I'm quite strict in my class, because it's a difficult group of kids. I'll probably not win many popularity contests with this class, but it's for the benefit of them and the other kids. Sadly next year they'll run riot because the teacher is weak and lazy.

As far as the kids go who should get expelled, you pretty much nail on the problem there as an issue created by the system. Expelled kids flit from one place to another causing havoc because there's very little in the way of institutions in place to deal with them. And you're quite right that sometimes they aren't gotten rid of at all, because of reasons created by the system. The last twenty years of education has been dominated by finance and results-based outcomes. While its no bad thing to insist on good standards, the means and the ends are all lousy. You've got schools taking on or retaining absolute dross because each kid is worth ?X, irrespective of their impact in a school. You have standards being assessed solely by one-off tests (in primary schools at least). Teachers teach to the test for years in advance, creating kids with good grades but very limited learning experiences or actual skills. This system of financial pressure and artifical results-based policy leads to kids becoming disillusioned and staff being tied down to a prescribed definition of 'success.' Good kids are left to get on with it and become disillusioned, like you suggest, because schools have to focus on getting the best results possible, amongst the poor behaviour, financial pressures of retaining bad kids, and they even may resort to corrupt means to do so.

As for this student you mention... Do you know if he has Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or any form of learning difficulties like Dyslexia? I?m not making excuses for the student, but maybe his outbursts are influences by his frustrations in the classroom? Maybe some additional support, whether learning and behaviour could help?

I think the Ed Psychologist is paying a visit, so that'll shed some light on the situation. It has been clear since Nursery that the mother hates the boy - she's said it to his face in all sincerity, and in front of staff. She has another kid who she adores and treats totally differently, so sadly it seems as if bad parenting has had a catastrophic effect on him.

[prinnysquad]

A good teacher, by and large, can keep a class together (even the most troubling classes) and teach a lesson. I've seen the same class go from sitting down doing their work with one teacher, to going absolutely crazy and throwing chairs and smashing tables in the next class purely because the students had absolutely no respect for the teacher. The moment another teacher walks in, they all sit and quiet down, only to continue the moment said teacher walks off. It's often just a game to them!

This is very true! I've got recent first hand experience of this!

[abigsmurf]

bumpity bump

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/8652243.stm

Cleared of all charges (except for a GBH charge he pleaded guilty for). Won't be jailed.

Think it's the right decision. His career as a teacher is finished which is punishment enough. The kids stepped way over the line here, the whole "they're just kids" thing only excuses so much. That level of torment and abuse to someone who'd been on leave due to stress...

Can't excuse what he did but I certainly don't feel any pity for the children involved.

[vanpeebles]

That's decent news. As someone who has worked in education now for nearly a decade a lot of people have no idea of the problem of kids behavior at schools. Sometimes almost daily aggressive confrontations which could ignite in a second.

That bloke needs proper help and maybe shouldn't of been back at work. I've little sympathy for the kid though seen far too many like that.

[Peekay]

We look at managed moves, Personal Independent Student Support OFF site plans, reduced time tables, internal exclusion, reports, clear escalation plans and these all work for most kids.

PISS OFF plans? Ha, seriously?

[Yakumo]

Good result. I also feel no pity for the kid. He knew what he was doing and got what he deserved. I've also seen far too many little ****s like that in my time.