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Pupil behaviour report
ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the news that the Institute of Education has published a review of their research into behaviour in schools.
The report, 'Improving Behaviour and Attendance at School', suggests a good rewards system could encourage pupils to behave better and ignoring poor behaviour could help to reduce disruption in the classroom.
Party response: Conservative
Michael Gove, shadow childrens secretary, said: "The suggestion that teachers should ignore poor behaviour is wrong. As any teacher or parent knows, far too many children are having their education ruined by bad behaviour in the classroom.
"Teachers need to have more powers to deal with disruptive children so they can ensure our schools are well-ordered places in which children can get on with learning."
Stakeholder response: Institute of Education
To send a comment to the IOE, click here
Dr Lynne Rogers, co-author of the report, said: "A school's physical environment is important in encouraging attendance because it sends messages about whether its pupils are valued.
"Schools where pupils' achievements are celebrated, however small, encourage pupils to be self-motivated and self-disciplined, reducing the need for staff to police their behaviour and attendance."
Professor Susan Hallam, co-author of the report, said: "For children who seek attention, being given it even through punishment will be rewarding.
"A better solution is to ignore poor behaviour where possible and instead reward good behaviours, because this will lead to their repetition and bring about change."
Stakeholder response: National Union of Teachers
To send a comment to the NUT, click here
Christine Blower, acting general secretary, said: "This is a highly perceptive study. Rewarding good behaviour is not a soft option – it is the only option, if we are to encourage enthusiastic learners; neither is it an option to ignore bad behaviour. Strategic ignoring is far better than rewarding by attention when it comes to changing children’s behaviour.
"What is vital is that each school has a clear and transparent behaviour policy where penalties and rewards are recognised and accepted. Those who would characterise the study as one which encourages bad behaviour simply don't understand what works in schools.
"The majority of schools have orderly environments and that is because teachers want to catch children being good.
"While serious behaviour problems may be relatively rare, it is clear that a minority of schools experience those problems disproportionately. They are the schools which need additional backing and support.
"The study confirms the NUT's deep concern that teachers are constantly on the back foot because of the bad behaviour of some media celebrities. The 'Buzzcocks' syndrome might seem amusing but it simply undermines teachers' efforts to continue to do their core job – that of teaching."
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