Teachers’ right to discipline

8 February 2006

Commenting on Education Minister Jacqui Smith’s speech on pupil discipline, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s biggest teachers’ organisation, said:

“Whatever the other faults with the White Paper, the Government’s proposal to give an unambiguous right to teachers to discipline pupils is welcome and long over due.

“Teachers need to be absolutely confident about their authority. I want the government to understand that it is the teacher who has the responsibility for discipline and the imposition of sanctions within the classroom. The legislation must focus on enhancing the authority of the teacher. 

“If  children disobey a teacher’s instruction not to use their mobile phones then the last thing that teacher needs is to be told that they don’t have the right to confiscate it.

“To enshrine a teacher’s right to discipline pupils in law will reinforce the message to parents and the wider community that schools are safe and secure places of learning. Extending that right to the streets and public transport will underline to pupils that good behaviour is expected everywhere.

“If the legislation lives up to the Government’s aspiration then teachers will welcome it as a commitment to supporting their work in the classroom.”