Teaching staff cuts blamed for rise in student violence

Violence, intimidation, and verbal abuse by students are on the rise and risk getting worse because of cuts to guidance and other roles, a teachers’ union has warned.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland says school managements are unable or unwilling to deal with indiscipline, which is getting worse because of cuts to teacher numbers, loss of middle management roles such as year heads, and abolition of guaranteed guidance counselling provision.

The TUI is calling for the cutbacks to be reversed and fair sanctions to be available that would allow all students reach their potential.

“[The staffing cuts] have all contributed to a situation that simultaneously makes the occurrence of unacceptable behaviour more likely, and the capacity for effective early intervention in schools increasingly difficult,” said TUI general secretary John MacGabhann.

He said teachers’ concerns are not about minor incidents or youthful exuberance, but about dangerous behaviour that severely restricts teaching and learning and puts the health and safety of other students and of teachers at risk.

“It could take the form of verbal abuse, threatening or intimidating behaviour, or even, in some cases, incidents of violence towards other students or teachers,” he said.

Mr MacGabhann said that, too often, no effective intervention is made and students are returned to class where the safety of classmates or teachers is further compromised, meaning the disruptive student’s interests are prioritised above those of others.

A 2006 TUI survey found 21% of teachers had seen unacceptable physical violence between students in their class in the previous week, and the same number were subject to intimidating behaviour in that period.

The Department of Education set up the National Behaviour Support Service in the same year. It currently works with more than 100 schools on behaviour improvement, with 13 staff and a 2014 budget of €1m.

With a few exceptions, second-level schools have not been allowed to replace assistant principal or other middle-management posts for several years, in a bid to save additional pay costs.

The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals proposed changes in management structures last week to the Oireachtas education committee.