A TUI survey is the first extensive assessment of pupil indiscipline in our schools, writes Seán Flynn
The TUI survey exposes the huge problems that confront teachers in the classroom. As the first extensive assessment of the scale of pupil indiscipline, it replaces anecdote with harsh fact.
The poll team, headed by Declan Glynn of the TUI, selected one week last month to survey teachers in vocational, community and comprehensive schools and colleges.
On the following week, when these incidents were still fresh in their minds, teachers were questioned. Pollsters say this methodology provides the most accurate picture.
The TUI says the survey - like the best opinion polls - has a margin of error of 3 per cent.
The picture it presents is very worrying. A generation ago, Irish pupils may have been deferential and quiescent. Today, many classrooms seem to be tense places, where the teacher's energies are directed away from teaching and towards a form of crowd control.
The most striking feature of the poll is the degree to which the behaviour of a relatively small number of pupils disrupts daily school life for all the other pupils.
Teachers are spending a huge amount of time dealing with one or two incidents of poor behaviour and losing teaching time.
Many students are themselves exasperated. According to teachers, some 56 per cent say disciplinary problems are sapping the morale of students.
Seven out of 10 teachers are also suffering from lower morale because of the problems they face. A majority are stressed and frustrated, according to the poll.
The morale of teachers has not been helped by a legislative framework which can make it very difficult to deal with persistently disruptive pupils.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act many students have successfully appealed against their expulsion - much to the irritation of school management. That said, the number of successful appeals is declining as school managements tighten up their procedures.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has stopped short of labelling the disciplinary problem a crisis, but she does acknowledge that the problem is getting more serious.
She has gained credit from teachers for establishing a Task Force on Student Behaviour which will present its final report tomorrow. It is no exaggeration to say that many teachers are waiting with bated breath to see what the report will propose.
The TUI wants legal changes which shift the balance from the rights of one pupil to the overall right of the entire class. While the public would probably agree with radical legislative change, it remains to be seen if the task force will be as bold.
Some sources suggest the report will instead emphasise the development of a strong leadership team in schools, good partnerships with parents/ guardians, and the promotion of good classroom management skills.
Disruption in schools: what teachers report
Unacceptable disruption of class by students
- 77 per cent.
Disrespect and bullying/cruelty among students
- 50 per cent.
Sexual innuendo/harassment of class teachers
- 8 per cent.
Low attention and participation - 77 per cent.
Unacceptable impertinence/defiance by
students - 63 per cent.
Physical violence to students by other
students - 21 per cent.
Source: Teacher's Union of Ireland survey.