| Interesting reading in today's national newspaper! The | | | | even children want behaviour to improve in schools it |
| current government opposition party, hoping that | | | | can't happen because the adults who are responsible |
| they're predicting what the electorate want, are | | | | for carrying out the task of dealing with the behaviour |
| promising a crackdown on discipline in schools and say | | | | problems haven't the skills and knowledge to do so. |
| they will declare war on 'yobbery'. They claim that | | | | Adults across society have lost their way when it |
| children's behaviour has got progressively worse, with | | | | comes to disciplining children. They've been undermined |
| over 3.5 million days lost in children's education in the | | | | and given so much inaccurate advice over a long time, |
| last 5 years due to exclusions. | | | | leaving them unsure, lacking confidence and |
| They promise to put school discipline at the top of the | | | | sometimes even frightened to tackle children's bad |
| political agenda when they get elected into | | | | behaviour. |
| government -- well they hope they'll get elected. Time | | | | What's needed then? Education -- for the adults. They |
| will tell on that one... | | | | need to learn or relearn what they need to do to deal |
| Of course, the other lot claim that everything's hunky | | | | with behaviour problems, ideally to prevent the bad |
| dory and that the debate on children's behaviour is all a | | | | behaviour from happening in the first place. Is it possible |
| great big fuss about nothing -- they claim that | | | | to do this? It certainly is and it's not difficult. Anyone |
| behaviour in schools has improved... Try convincing a | | | | can learn to manage children's behaviour without a |
| vast number of people about that, Mr Minister! | | | | problem. |
| But, whatever the rights or wrongs of the political | | | | Most adults instinctively know that they should be in |
| parties' arguments there is a fundamental problem that | | | | control of children's behaviour and soon change their |
| goes beyond giving schools and teachers the extra | | | | behaviour when they're taught the basic skills of |
| powers to control the appalling behaviour of many | | | | effective behaviour management and start to |
| children. In fact, schools and teachers have sufficient | | | | confidently use the techniques. Confidence quickly |
| powers to deal with problem behaviour already. So | | | | kicks in and replaces uncertainty. People know sense |
| why aren't they using the powers? | | | | when they hear it... For too long they've been given |
| Well, that's where we come to the problem that needs | | | | information and 'advice' about dealing with children |
| to be addressed before any proposed further powers | | | | that's at odds with that which they know has worked |
| can benefit teachers and the majority of children who | | | | for generations. |
| are perfectly well behaved, but whose education is | | | | Allowing and encouraging adults to act as adults, |
| frequently impaired and disrupted by the bad behaviour | | | | disciplining children in a way that encourages them to |
| of others. | | | | mature into healthy, confident youths and adults is vital |
| So, what's the problem? | | | | for the improvement of education standards and |
| However much the government, schools, parents and | | | | behaviour standards throughout society. |