"Schools are 'employing bouncers' "

[gmul]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7995869.stmRead more... )

Comments

[purple_peril]

Well yes, except that a goodly number of experienced, skilled, caring, trained teachers (such as myself) wouldn't touch supply teaching (or indeed any teaching really) with a ten foot pole, largely because teachers are powerless to discipline pupils any more. Therefore I am not remotely surprised to find that schools are employing people whose principal skill is intimidation (sorry if that upsets you, but that is pretty much what security guards are for - to stop trouble before it starts) to at least keep the kids from climbing up the walls.
I enjoyed actually teaching, but I didn't enjoy riot control which, sadly, became the major part of my job over the years. If teachers are unable or unwilling to volunteer for that, it's hardly surprising that the jobs are going to people who aren't.
Anyway, go to bed!

[gmul]

because teachers are powerless to discipline pupils any more
Quite so. Instead they get other people in who can't either, for exactly the same reasons and can't necessarily teach either. Yay, win. Er...

[purple_peril]

Yes you're right, except that if you have someone scary enough in the room, you won't *need* to discipline them. Or that's the theory, I'm guessing.
I'm willing to bet that the supply teachers you remember weren't useless at all - they were probably good, caring teachers who couldn't cope with 30 screaming kids climbing out of the windows and throwing things. I couldn't, and if an ex-policeman/marine/prison officer can, rather them than me.

[orddu]

In fairness, if you remember "Group B" I had a couple of years ago, frankly a headlock was too good for most of them.

Most no, but the odd few...

[gmul]

It's a fair cop gov but society's to blame... Or the parents. Still, a few years and you can have them back as clients, probation service willing.