Ministers should give teachers the power to fine parents if they do not work with schools to tackle an “epidemic” of bad behavior, Tony Blair's think tank says.
Educators have the same legal powers to compel parents to attend meetings with schools and agree to action plans for their children regarding truancy, the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) has said in a new report. He said that it should be held.
They also say teachers should be able to escalate cases to the police, NHS or social services if they do not.
The report found that teachers are in a better position to spot the red flags of deep-rooted problems, and that giving teachers more of a role in keeping them safe gives them more control over the classroom, improving student learning and performance, and helping teachers It claims to be able to address recruitment and retention issues. crisis.
Alexander Iosado, the institute's director of government innovation, said the report “shows that teachers are powerless and unsupported to address the prevalence of disruptive and dangerous behavior.” said.
He said: “We must shift the balance of power back in favor of teachers and give them the support they need.
“We have heard many times about the challenges of teacher retention, but we have heard little about the hidden crisis that is leading to teacher attrition, and for other careers. A safe and uninterrupted environment is the minimum requirement.”
However, school leaders fear this could backfire, increasing pressure on teachers and their workloads and potentially damaging relationships between schools and parents. Instead, they are calling for more funding for social care and other support for families and children facing hardship.
Data analysis compiled for TBI by Edurio and Opinium found that more than half of teachers struggle to access support to deal with student behavior, while schools consistently comply with rules. It is suggested that less than one in 10 people believe this. More than two-thirds say their classes are regularly interrupted due to poor behavior.
The report says persistent disruption is contributing to teacher burnout, with recent analysis from the Department for Education (DfE) finding that teachers who said their pupils were badly behaved were more likely to behave badly. found that they were almost twice as likely to consider leaving within a year compared to teachers who had good classroom management (37%). v 21%).
It also cites evidence to suggest that students and teachers are concerned about their personal safety, which is impacting on achievement and aspirations. A recent Teacher Tapp poll found that more than a third of teachers have experienced physical abuse from students. A survey of 1,000 students conducted for the report found that 7 out of 10 children who felt unsafe at school said they had missed at least one day in the previous month, the highest predictor of absence. This is a factor.
Pepe Diácio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the report accurately points out that schools are facing increasingly difficult behavior by some students, but that the policy is “I am concerned that this will result in significant additional burdens,” he said. and worsens tensions with parents. ”
Instead, he said he would make sure children have access to specialist help “so that we can address problems early on, before they become serious” and that funding for pastoral support in schools. proposed to increase.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said the report was “well-intentioned” but “alarmist language” and “misguided and unworkable”.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of children are well-behaved and engaged in school,” he said, adding that the government should focus on “rebuilding tired institutions”. added.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “As we deliver our transformation plan, we will break down barriers to opportunity and tackle the root causes of inappropriate behavior… but we recognize there is more to do. We will continue to work closely with teachers.” We are thinking about how we can further support all our children to raise standards for them. ”
