topic Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers in Community Spirit

Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

icyfroth — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:15:49 GMT

TEACHERS across NSW are set to be granted greater powers to discipline unruly students in the classroom.

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has ordered his department to review and "strengthen" its code of conduct.

It is understood Mr Piccoli wants the code, last revised in January 2012, to give schools greater freedom in disciplining unruly students.

In a column written exclusively for The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Piccoli said discipline in schools was critical in ensuring challenging behaviour was not tolerated.

"That's why late last year, I asked my department to strengthen the code of conduct, which includes ways teachers can interact with their students," he said.

The move is likely to be welcomed by teachers, who claim their powers to control misbehaving students have been eroded by rigid regulations.

Since the abolition of the cane in the 1990s, teachers have also been banned from "shouting angrily" or physically stopping students from leaving a classroom.

The existing code of conduct states teachers are not allowed to confiscate items such as mobile phones, but instead must "ask" the student to hand over the item.

The Sunday Telegraph has been inundated with letters from teachers and concerned parents on the issue of discipline, while a recent survey found the lack of control in the classroom was among the key reasons many staff quit the education system.

Disciplining disputes have also landed many teachers in court, such as in the case of former high school teacher Stephen Krix, who was sacked after putting an unruly student into a headlock.

The court found that Mr Krix was right to direct misbehaving boys to stay in his classroom, but not to "physically restrain" them.

Link To Article

It's about time they woke up to themselves. I'd love to see Mr Krix re-instated.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

crystal**flake — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:21:16 GMT

Parents have lost their **bleep**, I dont know how teachers can do it in a class of 30.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

icyfroth — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:36:35 GMT

I think a lot of teachers are quitting because it's all too hard. One teacher's comment in Sunday Telegraph' s Letters to the Editor"

"...sworn at, pushed, ignored, rammed in the corridor to have coffee intentionally spilled over me, car deliberately damaged, taunts via email, food and balls thrown at me on playground duty"...

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

azureline** — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:47:37 GMT

I hope Mr Krix uses his talents as a bouncer for the remainder of his working life.

I think we need an overhaul of teachers and their methods, get teachers who are successful in the classroom to share their knowledge and teach the others how it is done.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

icyfroth — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:51:12 GMT

Have you ever taught a classroom of teenagers, Az?

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

lloydslights — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:55:41 GMT

Please also refer to the piece within that article of the Principal of Punchbowl Boys High School.

Respected leadership.

Deb.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

icyfroth — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 11:14:10 GMT

@lloydslights wrote:
Please also refer to the piece within that article of the Principal of Punchbowl Boys High School.

Respected leadership.

Deb.

You mean this by Jihad Dib?

"...turning a school around is more than one person standing on a soapbox issuing edicts.

It is the hard work of a team of staff with the courage to pursue dreams of creating the type of school they wanted as kids..."

"...it is realised through determined students and supportive parents doing all they can to ensure everyone is richer for being part of the journey..."

To me that reads that the teacher, students, school administration and parents should all be working together in producing educated and well adjusted young adults.

Not just leaving the teacher to deal with unruly students with ineffectual restrictions and no backup from staff or parents.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

lloydslights — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 11:43:36 GMT

Yes, that is the one. Encouraging, isn't it? And those wonderful deputy principals will, hopefully, become principals who continue the positivity. Well done to all the staff, pupils and community.

DEB

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

cherry*135 — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 11:50:51 GMT

.. the case of former high school teacher Stephen Krix, who was sacked after putting an unruly student into a headlock.

That isn't even accurate.

He was invovled in 3 serious incidents (while on probation as a teacher new to the Public system) which resulted in his dismissal

He did not put the student into a headlock

He appealed his dismissal and lost.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

azureline** — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 11:52:12 GMT

@icyfroth wrote:
Have you ever taught a classroom of teenagers, Az?

I am not a teacher but I have immediate family members who are... and have. I have also been the mother of teenagers and quite active within their schools. I am also the aunt of teenagers.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

cherry*135 — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 11:53:28 GMT

Since the abolition of the cane in the 1990s, teachers have also been banned from "shouting angrily" or physically stopping students from leaving a classroom.

I bet they don't reinstate either of those things.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

cherry*135 — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 12:00:01 GMT

QLD tougher school discipline powers in 2014

“These changes will importantly also expand principals’ abilities to discipline a student for actions outside school, including online bullying.

“They can also carry out disciplinary measures on non-school days, for example – a Saturday detention and students may now be required to participate in Community Service Interventions as a consequence of their behaviour.”

He said other changes included the extension of short-term suspensions from up to five school days to up to 10 school days, and long term suspensions, which can now be between 11 to 20 days.

Mr Krix would still have been dismissed under those changes.

Changes allow cutting of paperwork.. big deal

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

lloydslights — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 12:06:23 GMT

If there is a good positive atmosphere within the school, and a good teacher who has outlined the boundaries in his/her first meeting with that class, there should not be the need to shout angrily or physically detain a student.

DEB

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

love*today — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 20:51:52 GMT

lol at the people thinking we live in a perfect world!

I see first hand what its like at primary school, its not pretty. Actually its disgusting and i joked that id be an alco if i had to be a teacher, that was met with a dont joke about it 😕
Have heard stories first hand of high schools.

My eldest started of at the best school, it was like a community...parents students and teachers all working together for the best outcome. All parents Must attend weekly meetings to discuss school, home anything really. Plus it had some rule like the cane but they hadnt had to enforce that rule for years.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

lloydslights — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 22:13:59 GMT

Primary school....

Actually the first day of school, is the day the boundaries are set for a life in the education system - in a language understandable to that age group.

Thence, first day of each term, then again at the beginning of each year right through their school life.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

icyfroth — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 22:20:12 GMT

@lloydslights wrote:
Primary school....

Actually the first day of school, is the day the boundaries are set for a life in the education system - in a language understandable to that age group.

Thence, first day of each term, then again at the beginning of each year right through their school life.

I agree. And it needs to be reinforced at home as well as at school.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

polksaladallie — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 22:21:52 GMT

That is correct. I am the parent of a teacher, and the rules are set at the start of each year. There are dozens of discilpine methods, none of which involve physical abuse.

IMO part of the problem is (as in every job or profession), there are good teachers and there are bad teachers. Bad teachers are employed because there is no-one else to fill the vacancies. Somehow that problem has to be addressed.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

boris1gary — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 22:49:22 GMT

that's interesting, a relative of mine returned to Australia last year, he is a qualified teacher, with experience - after about 4mths of double, triple red tape he was finally able to start applying for a teaching position (NSW only, more red tape) he was available to work anywhere in NSW at all - there was very little available - ended up in outback NSW in a short term position. He finally decided to leave Australia again and is teaching abroad.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

polksaladallie — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:11:27 GMT

The bad teachers can't be sacked just to make way for a good teacher. There was a shortage years ago, so anyone was given a position.

Re: Teachers To Gain More Disciplinary Powers

boris1gary — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:37:43 GMT

Of coarse not and who is to judge these "bad teachers".