Second-level schools have been advised by the Department of Education that parents and other visitors should make appointments and wear visitor badges as part of measures to reduce attacks on teachers and other staff.
The measures are outlined in a Department of Education circular on violence in schools sent to principals earlier this week. In it, the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, expresses his "concern about incidents of violence towards staff in second-level schools".
School staff may be at risk of verbal abuse, threats, assaults or other forms of intimidation from pupils, parents, guardians, other staff members or visitors, says the circular. "While the level of reported incidents of violence is low, the Minister is anxious that every effort be made to create and maintain a culture in schools where acts of violence are not tolerated, and where incidents, where they do occur, are effectively and speedily dealt with."
The circular adds: "The practice of parents approaching classrooms direct during teaching time should be expressly discouraged. Specifically, access to teachers should be on an `appointment only' basis." Recent surveys have shown a significant proportion of assaults on teachers are by parents.
The circular echoes an earlier one which says "aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour" to wards a teacher by a student "may warrant suspension". It also re commends that schools should consider making all visitors - including parents, although they are not specifically mentioned - report to a designated area like the school's reception area and wear visitor badges.
The circular also recommends that "in exceptional circumstances" teachers should be trained "in identifying and avoiding potentially violent situations" and "in calming down potentially violent situations".
The circular says following an assault, all details, including a description of injuries sustained and weapons used, should be recorded in an incident book. "Situations in which staff members have been intimidated or threatened with physical violence should also be recorded."
Mr John White, deputy general secretary of the secondary teachers' union, ASTI, said yesterday the union had been seeking this circular for some time and was particularly concerned since a bad assault on a primary teacher in Co Waterford last year.
Schools with up to 1,000 pupils and 100 staff needed to be "orderly institutions with proper arrangements for visitors". It was not acceptable for "an angry parent to march into a classroom and demand to see a teacher". However, he emphasised that teachers welcomed parents in schools, since "essentially they both have the same aim, the wellbeing of the young people".