Raft of measures to tackle disruptive pupils

More than 100 special measures are being put in place to tackle disruptive students in schools, it was announced today.

New regional Behaviour Support Teams will target schools with serious discipline problems, while specialist classrooms will be piloted to deal with unruly pupils.

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said laws may also be amended to find a balance between the rights of a disruptive pupil and the majority in the classroom.

Ms Hanafin stressed the report of the Task Force on Students’ Behaviour in Second Level Schools – ‘School Matters’ – was not published in response to a crisis, but a proactive approach to future problems.

It lists 21 broad areas of recommendation with over 100 associated actions to help schools deal with disruptive behaviour in the classroom.

“The report puts the issue of student discipline in its proper context,” she said.

“We do not have a crisis. We do not have a breakdown in the operation of our schools. But the issue of student discipline is an important one.”

Minister Hanafin continued: “Where there is a serious problem it has very real implications for the learning of many pupils in the schools affected and for the morale of teachers.

“These measures represent the first initiative of its kind in Irish education.”

The wide range of recommendations includes recruiting more psychologists to work with behaviour support teams which will be up and running by the start of the new academic year.

Schools experiencing significant discipline problems will be identified and benefit from intensive involvement.

Problem pupils could also find themselves removed from the mainstream classroom for limited periods of time before re-integration back into the system.

She said: “A behaviour support classroom must be seen as part of a ranging plan to improve discipline and the school and not just as a dumping ground.”

With such special measures in place it is hoped fewer pupils will face suspension or expulsion but for extreme cases the legislation will be changed to stress the rights of the learning majority.

Minister Hanafin urged people to remember that society and schools have changed with teachers dealing with today’s young people and not those of past time.

She added: “These recommendations require action and engagement from a wide range of participants in our education system.

“If progressed in tandem with action by schools, teachers and parents they will make a real difference to those schools dealing with high levels of students in discipline.”