‘Refusal to teach’ ballot backed by ICTU

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions has backed ‘refusal-to-teach’ ballots against schools which do not taken adequate action to tackle violent pupils.

The ICTU also voted in favour of the proposal by British teaching union NASUWT’ that an all-Ireland public register of attacks on teachers and other public sector workers be created.

Fred Bryant of the NASUWT said the teaching profession was particularly vulnerable to verbal and physical along with cyber-bullying.

“The structures which have been put in place to try and combat this have largely failed. One of the greatest barriers is the absence of accurate data on exactly what is happening.

There is no standardised recording of incidents. Most schools have a different way of recording and the information is not shared.

According to figures secured by the NASUWT from the Northern Ireland Assembly, there were 262 recorded violent attacks on teachers in Northern Ireland in the 2004-2005 school year.

“Only seven incidents resulted in expulsion of pupils involved,” said Mr Bryant. “It worked out at seven violent physical attacks on teachers every week, yet only one-in-40 of the pupils responsible were removed from the school. Some were returned to schools because of appeals panels. We know this is only the tip of the iceberg.

“Many incidents are not reported, especially verbal assaults for which we have no figures. This causes high levels of stress not only to the other pupils but also for the teachers. It is one of the main reasons for early exits from the profession.”

In cases where schools have not taken action, Mr Bryant said the NASUWT conducted refusal-to-teach campaigns which have been very successful.

By removing pupils from the schools where they are causing the problems, he said it allows them to have a new start. Other pupils, said Mr Bryant, also have an opportunity to be taught by teachers that are not constantly in fear of being attacked.

He called for an all-Ireland public register of attacks on teachers and other public sector workers.

“Those who are offered verbal or physical violent pupils should not work with those people, they should not give their services to the people who attack them,” he said.

The conference, meanwhile, also backed calls for an optional three-year infant programme for all children who require it and the expansion of the Early Start Programme as part of universal early childhood education.

It is also seeking an immediate improvement in the staffing schedule of primary schools.