Education bill - Schools must be free from disruption

Doubtless, teachers and parents will welcome proposals in education law aimed at restoring the balance in the classroom between the rights of an unruly pupil and those of others who want to pursue their education.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced the bill yesterday which will seek to remove the emphasis, or priority, which the appeals committee set up by her department accords to an expelled or suspended pupil.

When enacted into law, it will provide for the educational interests of other students, and a number of other factors including the health, safety and welfare of teachers and students.

The bill is grounded in the report of the Task Force on Student Behaviour in Second Level School, and importantly, among its recommendations is that class sizes should be smaller. It also recommends more time for assistant principals to deal with student behaviour, which makes sense.

While the educational rights of those disciplined are important, both the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation are correct to assert that classrooms free from serious disruption, with an environment supportive of continuous learning, must be the objective.