Should teachers have more power to control unruly students?

[Gandalf]

I know the Daily Mail is a sleazy and low quality paper, but the headlines come up on Yahoo and I feel the urge to click occasionally. Anyway, this article interested me somewhat.

We will hand power to restrain unruly pupils back to the teachers, say Tories | Mail Online

I teach in a culture where the teacher is king and it is not unusual for students to feel the force of a stick. I don't use force myself and have never hit a student, but I do throw them out sometimes and shout at them. But that is usually enough, I leave the physical abuse to the Koreans who seem to quite enjoy all that. On a certain level I think corporal punishment is a bit shitty, but on the other hand I think it can be very effective as a last resort.

In the UK teachers have no power whatsoever. I cannot believe that 2/3rds of teachers have considered quitting because of threats. I have never been threatened by a student and I could never imagine a student doing that to me. I would never have threatened a teacher as a kid either. It's nuts. When I was at school a boy punched the deputy-head square on the nose and was back at school within a month! He was eventually expelled, but it took a long time. I think he is probably dealing drugs now (steady tax free employment, I guess). I have no idea how teachers cope in some of the more problematic inner city areas.

I think the Tory proposals are actually quite fair and might do something to stop the behavioural rot that has occured in British schools, but it probably doesn't go far enough. Some of these kids are the offspring of devils. I would actually go as far as bringing in corporal punishment as a last resort too. It's used too much out here, but on the whole kids don't seem to be as behaviourally challenged as in the UK. I like teaching a lot, but would never teach British kids.

Should teachers be able to do more to control the unruly rabble of the classroom?

[Master]

Teachers should use the authority to control children, not use violence like the cane or 'clip round the ear', which did nothing to control me. The fact that they would tell my parents scared me enough.

[Gandalf]

Teachers should use the authority to control children, not use violence like the cane or 'clip round the ear', which did nothing to control me. The fact that they would tell my parents scared me enough.

Same here. I was a pretty good student on the whole, though there were times when I could be quite naughty. Not in a horrible way, just talking in class and flicking pieces of eraser with a ruler. A glance from the teacher or a raised voice was usually enough to make me take heed. I use the same tools today and it works well, but I am dealing with kids who on the whole have pretty decent attitudes. They can get beaten by teachers here just for having their hair slightly too long or the ultimate sin of having a crafty cigarette. It doesn't help that during breaktimes students can see the teachers congregating and smoking together mind.

[El Kabong]

Teachers should use the authority to control children, not use violence like the cane or 'clip round the ear', which did nothing to control me. The fact that they would tell my parents scared me enough.

That's the thing though, the parents don't give a shit anymore, in fact when a teacher does tell them that their kid is in trouble the parent usually sides with the kid.

So IMO screw disciplining the kid, do something to those fucking idiot parents!

[Master]

Teachers should use the authority to control children, not use violence like the cane or 'clip round the ear', which did nothing to control me. The fact that they would tell my parents scared me enough.

That's the thing though, the parents don't give a shit anymore, in fact when a teacher does tell them that their kid is in trouble the parent usually sides with the kid.

So IMO screw disciplining the kid, do something to those fucking idiot parents!

Yes makes it difficult if the kids do not respect their parents, so you have to try another angle like motivating them to do better in life than their lousy parents. Having a good education is one of the few ways to get on in life and it should be encouraged for all children. Best days of their lives.

[Gandalf]

Teachers should use the authority to control children, not use violence like the cane or 'clip round the ear', which did nothing to control me. The fact that they would tell my parents scared me enough.

That's the thing though, the parents don't give a shit anymore, in fact when a teacher does tell them that their kid is in trouble the parent usually sides with the kid.

So IMO screw disciplining the kid, do something to those fucking idiot parents!

Totally agree. Parenting is a huge factor. When the parents don't give a shit about how the kid behaves and the teachers have little power to control them either, then it becomes a serious problem.

People are able to have children whenever they want, but they have no idea how to be parents. And then you factor in the huge numbers of broken families. The family unit is still very strong in Korea and causing shame to the family is a serious thing. Strong parents and strong teachers mean a society that is relatively free from the menace of rampaging criminal teenagers. It is somewhat authoritarian and has its downsides, but the positives are there to be seen. In the West we have gone too far towards compassion and giving children the cushion to do what they like when they like and we are paying the penalties. Of course, not all parents are bad, but there seem to be too many who are either not in control or else just don't care about being mature responsible parents.

[Nameless]

PArenting is a huge factor but now, in some countries like Canada, because of some laws and dispositions to protect children, teachers have absolutely no power at all:

For example, a teacher doesn't have to even get a kid's arm and drag him out of the class... so if a kid says fuck off, disturbs everybody and get told to get out and refuses, what do you do? Sure often it comes from a bad parenting but sometimes, it's just the fact to live in a bad or tougher environment, then it gets pretty difficult. I would never allow slapping or hurt to be done to a kid but I still would be in favor to give some more tools for the teachers to be respected, including to squeeze an arm if necessary.

[Gandalf]

PArenting is a huge factor but now, in some countries like Canada, because of some laws and dispositions to protect children, teachers have absolutely no power at all:

For example, a teacher doesn't have to even get a kid's arm and drag him out of the class... so if a kid says fuck off, disturbs everybody and get told to get out and refuses, what do you do? Sure often it comes from a bad parenting but sometimes, it's just the fact to live in a bad or tougher environment, then it gets pretty difficult. I would never allow slapping or hurt to be done to a kid but I still would be in favor to give some more tools for the teachers to be respected, including to squeeze an arm if necessary.

You need some tools to enforce order in the classroom otherwise you have anarchy. I agree that beating kids is really not cool, but if the kid has really crossed the line then there does need to be some discipline. I will march a kid out if he is being stubborn (it's always a he too!) and refusing to go out, but it really is a last measure thing and really doesn't happen very often. Most kids know when to pipe down.

In terms of parenting I really think a good slap from my mother was very beneficial too. It wasn't nice and I would much rather have never been slapped, but it did teach me where the line was and to tread carefully if I was getting close to it. Not exactly child abuse.