It is a sad indictment on our society that Tasmanian teachers are increasingly being attacked by children as young as seven.
Recent classroom outbursts including a student stabbing a teacher with a pen, a student trying to strangle a teacher and a teacher being punched in the face, are just a few examples of what teachers across the state are telling me about violence in the classroom.
I am not suggesting that the violence problem is out of control, but it’s been simmering for many years because of a lack of clear leadership on the issue.
The Education Department needs to make it crystal clear to teachers what is legal and acceptable in terms of physically restraining children who are harming themselves or others. In fact teachers should be told that reasonably restraining a violent child is a perfectly professional response.
It’s getting beyond ridiculous that teachers now feel they cannot ever touch children as part of their professional practice or they will be disciplined.
School leaders feel immense pressure to not involve police when these types of incidents occur, in favour of trying to resolve the matter internally. The State Government needs to make it clear to senior school staff that they should contact police whenever a person is injured as a result of an assault, in order to protect the rights of everyone involved.
We support calls for increased support from the Department to help teachers deal with violence problems.
Michael Ferguson MP
Shadow Minister for Education and Skills
14th July, 2010
