School managers insist they put interests of students first

School managers have rejected claims that they are unable or unwilling to deal with intimidating and violent student behaviour.

The accusation was made by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, whose general secretary John MacGabhann said that the administrative burden that can come with appeals is making some schools slow to expel or suspend disruptive students.

However, the body representing the education and training boards (ETBs), whose schools are staffed by TUI members, said management continue to put the interests of all students first, despite pressures of fewer middle-management staff and other supports.

“It would be unfair to generalise on this issue,” said Education and Training Boards Ireland general secretary Michael Moriarty. “ETBs locally and our own head office regularly support schools in dealing with these issues to copperfasten and ensure the common good is served in schools.

“Everyone has rights in a school but if those of the student population are infringed by inappropriate or extreme behaviour, ETBs are supporting schools and their management.”

Mr Moriarty said this was continuing despite less availability of guidance counsellors because of changed staffing arrangements by the Department of Education, and middle-management posts remaining vacant.

“Over the last 15 years, the whole school process has become more bureaucratic, and dealing with these issues requires adherence to principles of due process, as schools must be very careful in an area that has become very litigious,” he said. “Schools are doing it, but we all have to acknowledge there are increasing difficulties in terms of support staff, which makes it harder.”

Mr MacGabhann said TUI recognises pressures on over-stretched school management are part of the difficulty, particularly the loss of pastoral roles like year heads or other posts of responsibility. However, he said, schools must take a fairer approach that gives greater priority to the rights of students and teachers intimidated by those returning to class after violence or extreme bullying that borders on criminal.

“There have been cases of extreme behaviour that really deserve a more robust treatment than they got, and where local management didn’t even test the appeal process. Sometimes they decide not to go down the exclusion route, not so much on the facts of the case, but on the inevitable administrative burden that will follow,” Mr MacGabhann said.

National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals director Clive Byrne said that is not normal practice, as firm but fair discipline is needed in all cases.

“Schools follow their policies and it’s not in any principal’s interest to allow the school develop a reputation for indiscipline,” said Mr Byrne.