Local MP Norman Baker is calling on Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to restore common sense and allow sensible physical contact between teachers and children, as well as to take action to prevent teachers being damaged by unfounded allegations.
The MP's action comes after he wrote to the heads of all of the schools in his constituency, asking them a series of questions on the issue. The results of the MP's survey show that 40% of the schools that replied said that in the past two years they have experienced at least one case of an unfounded accusation being made against a teacher. Furthermore, the survey showed that 90% of the head teachers who replied were concerned by the current situation.
Norman Baker had originally raised the issue in an exchange in the House of Commons where the Secretary of State had replied dismissively. In response to a case where a teacher felt unable to comfort a child who had hurt themselves by putting an arm round them, Mr Balls said that they should have comforted the child. However, the Secretary of State did not answer the point raised by Norman regarding a situation in which a child disrupted a lesson by resolutely sitting under a desk, and the teacher felt unable to intervene until one of the child's parents had been summoned.
In responding to Norman's survey, a number of head teachers made several important comments, including:
Commenting on the issue, Norman said: "Schools cannot function properly if children know they have a hold over their teachers. This clearly shows there is a problem with the present situation that must be addressed.
"I think it is quite clear that if unfounded investigations and suspensions are potentially damaging good teachers' careers and reputations, action needs to be taken to put this right.
"Ed Balls may think there is no problem here but the responses speak for themselves. Common sense needs to be exercised in order for this problem to be resolved and that is not what is happening currently.
"I have written to the Secretary of State regarding this issue, and have asked that he revisit it and take action on the issue."
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