A survey carried out by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, has revealed that teachers believe that a pupil’s bad behaviour in school is due to a lack of support from parents. The survey, which was completed by more than 8000 members, shows that teachers don’t feel supported by parents when it comes to the behaviour of pupils in school. Many pupils don’t even come to school equipped with basic equipment, such as a pen, although they bring in iPods and mobile phones.
More than two thirds of teachers said that they considered a lack of parental support to be the most common reason for children not behaving in school. Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT said:
Parents can’t simply abandon their responsibilities at the school gate.
Electronic gadgets such as iPods, MP3 players and mobile phones, are believed to be a major distraction in the classroom, causing disruption when pupils should be concentrating on work. Very often, pupils who bring mobiles and other gadgets into school don’t bring in a pen or other basic equipment necessary to work.
The survey also revealed that teachers don’t feel supported by senior management, especially when confronting pupils regarding bad behaviour. The new powers given to teachers are thought to be a step in the right direction, giving teachers confidence to remove pupils who are disruptive in class.
