This article is from page 16 of the 2006-04-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE issue of discipline in the classroom dominated the agenda at last week’s TUI annual conference in Tralee, with delegates warning more support must be given to teachers to prevent the problem from spiralling out of control.
Delegates warned Education Minster Mary Hanafin that disadvantaged schools in particular are facing more serious discipline problems than their colleagues in other schools.
According to a TUI survey, 26 per cent of teachers in disadvantaged schools experienced serious forms of harassment and threatening behaviour compared to 16 per cent in other schools.
The findings also showed that teachers in disadvantaged schools spent more time dealing with disruptive students and had experienced a greater extent of verbal abuse from parents.
Clare TUI delegate Mary Burke says the issue of discipline is one affecting Clare’s schools. Ms Burke, a teacher in Ennis Community College, says greater support and resources must be provided to teachers for the issue to be properly addressed.
“The TUI has always sought to initiate discussion on discipline in the classroom. It is a question of putting the right supports in place in schools. We have 200 disadvantaged schools in Ireland and only 50 have been given behaviour support classrooms for discipline.”
According to the TUI, a lack of educational psychologists is exacerbating the problem of ill-discipline.
The lack of such a service will also create problems in the long run for children with special needs seeking to attend post-primary schools. The TUI also wants more done to ensure schools pursue a policy of integrating students with special needs into mainstream schools.
“There is a lack of psychologists for students, which leads to a delay in assessments. When there is a delay, it creates an additional problem as extra resources cannot be allocated to that school. Not all schools are taking on students with disabilities.”
The Government has allocated €2 million to deal with the issue of discipline in schools and the TUI believes this is not enough. “We haven’t the facilities or the funding.
“All schools have problems getting psychological support and with delays. Irish schools are changing rapidly and more resources and money are needed in all schools,” added Ms Burke.