School indiscipline - Classrooms must become safe havens

Teachers and parents should welcome any move to tackle serious disruption in the classroom, no matter how widespread it may be and especially if it can be quantified as criminal.

With a Fine Gael motion relating to growing indiscipline in the country’s schools, it would be appropriate for the Government to publish the final report of the Task Force on Student Behaviour as soon as possible. The report is effectively the Government’s legislative response to tackling school indiscipline problems and FG’s Deputy Olwyn Enright is quite correct to call for its publication.

It is crucial that the classroom, at whatever level, be a place where students can apply themselves to the important task of learning for life without having to contend, in some cases, with others carrying offensive weapons. If such be the case, it is totally unacceptable, and has to be eradicated immediately.