I have known so many Brit teachers who have quit in disgust at the lack of discipline in schools.A teacher sacked after confronting a disruptive teenage girl said yesterday that schools risked losing control of unruly pupils.
David Roy, who won £63,000 for unfair dismissal, said: ‘Frankly, the lack of discipline is absolutely appalling for the children themselves.
‘There are so many kids whose education is being massively disrupted by the bad behaviour of other children, and the teachers can’t do anything about it.’
During a science lesson being taken by 44-year-old Mr Roy, a girl of 13 simulated a sex act on a fellow pupil before sitting on a table with her back to the teacher.
The former Army officer tried to move it, but she fell off. An investigation exonerated Mr Roy, but the incident was cited when he was suspended after two more incidents involving unruly pupils, and he was sacked without being asked to give his account of them.
Yesterday, after clearing his name, Mr Roy spoke of his anger at how he had been treated. ‘What we need is more discipline in schools,’ he said. ‘It needs to be just and fair, but there need to be consequences if you misbehave.’
Critics say the ‘child-centred’ approach encouraged under Labour means schools have few meaningful options when faced with unruly pupils short of suspending them, with talented teachers risking their careers if they use any form of physical restraint.
Described as a ‘model teacher’ by colleagues, Mr Roy said he knew Collegiate High School in Blackpool had a reputation as a tough school when he joined the staff 12 years ago, but said matters had worsened in recent years. ‘It was getting out of hand and the lawlessness was scary,’ he said. ‘It was anarchic. It was literally kids running loose.’
It was while he was teaching a bottom set class in September 2008 that the 13-year-old, a known troublemaker, performed the simulated sex act before slumping on a table.
‘So I moved the table, which was big and heavy, and in a dramatic gesture – what I would call an exaggerated fashion – she fell off,’ he told a Sunday newspaper.
The girl lodged a complaint, and police and social services investigated before concluding Mr Roy had no case to answer.
In the first of the subsequent incidents, after he had escorted a misbehaving pupil outside, a Year 7 boy tapped him on the shoulder, and assuming he was being deliberately provoked he shouted at the youngster, later apologising.
A week later another boy refused to attend detention, and when the child pushed Mr Roy and shouted, the teacher grabbed him by the lapels to restrain him until two colleagues arrived to help. By now feeling disillusioned, Mr Roy told his head of department he could no longer cope, and he was placed on ‘gardening leave’.
The following month he was suspended and later dismissed.
Earlier this month, however, after an employment tribunal at which former colleagues gave evidence on his behalf, his dismissal was ruled unfair.
Mr Roy, a father of two young daughters whose wife, Diane, was diagnosed with cancer during his ordeal, hopes to return to teaching even though he feels the profession is ‘tainted’ following his treatment.
A spokesman for Blackpool council said: ‘We understand the decision made at the tribunal but cannot comment further as it is a matter for the governing body.’
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It really is a shame that there is no respect for the profession any more.
