NEARLY three-quarters of Scots teachers believe poor pupil behaviour is a widespread problem at their school, according to a new union survey.
Nearly 700 teachers responded to the survey from teaching union NASUWT, carried out between February and April.
NASUWT believes ways of dealing with disruptive pupils in schools – such as restorative behaviour strategies – have left teachers “increasingly vulnerable to verbal and physical abuse”.
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The union also criticised the practice of placing pupils with additional support needs in mainstream schools without the necessary support.
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: “Teachers in too many schools across the country are being disempowered by a culture of blame the teacher, rather than putting in place strategies to support them in the face of violent and disruptive behaviour.
“Too many pupils with behavioural issues are being placed in schools without the specialist support they need, with teachers being expected to pick up the pieces.
“The restorative approach to behaviour in too many schools has become synonymous with no consequences for pupils and consequently teachers are increasingly vulnerable to verbal and physical abuse.
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“No-one should go to work with the expectation of being physically or verbally abused and yet for too many teachers across Scotland this is now their day-to-day reality.
“It’s about time the Government and employers exercised their legal duty of care for their staff.”
The union’s survey found a total of 67% of the 673 respondents said poor pupil behaviour was a widespread problem at their school.
Scots NASUWT members moved a motion at the union’s annual conference calling for all schools to adopt a zero tolerance approach to violent and disruptive pupil behaviour.
The motion also states key contributors to an “increase in pupil indiscipline” including the “deplorable” introduction of behaviour management strategies, such as restorative behaviour; a presumption of mainstreaming for pupils with behavioural problems and “cuts to special provision, support services and funding”.
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