Out there in the world of educational discourse, as, currently in the world of anything, everything is becoming a bit black and white. It seems from social media and commentary that schools have arrived at a point where they must either subscribe to theories of zero tolerance, or else tolerate everything. Thus there are schools where absolutely no ‘misbehaviour’ is tolerated – punishments for talking between classes or forgetting a pen – and others where, if you chuck stones at a pregnant teacher, you have a restorative conversation with the deputy head over a hot chocolate and a KitKat (this latter conveyed to me by, I suppose, a ‘whistleblower’, not of course that anyone will pay much attention to her, or indeed to me).
On Twitter at least these two lobbies seem to be lodged in insurmountable disagreement. Disciplining children, particularly over ‘trivial’ things, will lead to lifelong unhappiness say the liberals, led by a string of psychologists. Their particular ire is directed at Kathryn Birbalsingh, the ‘strictest headmistress’ in Britain, whose school in London appears to detain children at the drop of a hat (but gets fantastic academic results). Ah, but the therapists say, what are ‘fantastic results’ in a broader sense? On the other side, politicians, pundits and yes, many teachers, point out that, without clear regulations and, specifically, direct support from those who manage schools, classrooms can descend into anarchy. Leading that charge is Tom Bennett, the ‘behaviour advisor’ to the Department of Education in England (not, Tom, incidentally, the UK as you claim on Twitter). The conversation is also highly charged in the USA, from which videos are posted every day of children attacking teachers.
The use of mobile phones is an example, with many schools now moving to a complete ban – young people may simply not bring a phone to school. Short of a phone-crushing machine, it’s unclear to me how such a unilateral ban is enforced. On the other side, it seems to be that there are schools in which if there are any rules at all, they are widely ignored, and where much teacher time is taken up trying to prevent young people from looking at their phones, or taking pictures, or texting their friends to come out of classes and meet them in the toilets, followed by truanting – some of these young people sign in to school and simply never attend classes (Ms Whistle again).
Or toilets, themselves. Some schools have absolutely clear policies which generally discourage young people from going to the loo during class (obviously there can’t be an absolute ban); in other schools, it is understood that if a young person (and particularly a girl) wants/needs to go to the toilet, then that must always be respected. Speaking as someone who goes off to the loo in the middle of meetings sometimes in order to look at my emails, I can’t imagine that today’s young people, fixated on their phones, will be able to resist.
Both these issues are surely a matter of common sense. Mobile phones are very useful security equipment for young people coming home from school – they can say when they’ll be back, find out when the bus is due and, most importantly, use it to summon help if they’re scared by someone on a dark winter’s night. It is surely possible to have a system which allows mobile phones to exist in schools switched off during school hours; if they need to be used then, permission needs to be sought. If they are used or go off in class, then there needs to be a sanction universally employed by all staff. The toilet thing is more complicated but it’s clearly not a good idea to let half a class out at the same time.
In a more general sense, we need to see that pastoral care and discipline are two sides of the same coin, just as they are for parents, well, for successful parents. The person whom you trust (or love) enough, when you are young, to discuss your feelings and your woes, should also be the person you trust to tell you off (yes, and sanction you, punish you, discipline you) when you have done something that so needs punishing. I’m not sure that I think that silence in corridors between lessons is necessary and I wouldn’t ever have given a child a detention for not having a pen, but we are, at the other extreme, in danger of making young people believe that they can do what they want when they want to, and very often that results in misery for other young people, and the adults teaching them. Balance is all – and I believe that such balance leads to young people ‘doing well’ at school, and, importantly, being happier at school.
I had dinner recently with a married couple, both of whom have senior roles in different Scottish state secondary schools, and whose views I respect very much. ‘Of course,’ said this Deputy Head, ‘I believe in unconditional positive regard. Every young person who comes in my office should know that I’m on their side and I like them and want them to do well. But that doesn’t stop me kicking their ass if necessary.’ Right on, brother in education.
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