School for Thought
by Patricia Montgomery, LincsMag Writer.
Date: 10 May 2010
Let’s face it, our schools are in chaos and it seems, from all directions. Discipline is in some of our schools non-existent and sadly has been for a long time, but when a teacher recently went berserk and literally pummelled a child’s head in with a dumbbell, then I’m afraid it’s not just the pupils that are out of control.
That so called teacher, should never be allowed near children, animals or people as a whole for that matter.
What if he goes berserk and tries to kill again? Who’s responsible? And if he does kill, then that is murder and who employs him is 100% responsible.
This was not a smack or even a clip around the ear (both of which I would approve of for unruly rude pupils), it was not even a thump, but a deliberate full frenzied insane attack in which he dragged the boy into a side room and beat him around the head with the dumbbell, whilst shouting, “Die, die, die.”
Christ! Why wasn’t he locked up? This wasn’t self-defence and no one had attacked him physically, and laughably if you or I had done the very same thing to a mugger or burglar that had attacked us, even in our own home, we would have been locked up!
The judge said he should never have been tried due to his mental state, yet it seems he was okay to be in charge of children? And this happened in the county next to ours, in Nottingham.
Not that we haven’t had our share of nut teachers.
De Aston had some years ago a teacher that was caught trying to set fire to the school library’s fireproof carpet, which was located on the first floor. He was of course insane, but was never removed from his job and the other teachers rallied round to protect him and cover it up.
No Thought to the Children
Notice that in all these cases, no thought is given to the safety of the children and by the way, though the carpet was fire proof, the books were not and would have burnt real well. Not bad for a school that has borders.
Even today some parents will tell you that there is a problem with bullying in De Aston, which the Head and other teachers refuse to acknowledge. This head in the sand approach is inexcusable, and looks more that there are those that are more bothered with getting their wage and pension and not accepting the responsibilities for which they are being paid.
I am angry at this attitude and that of allowing poor quality teachers not fit to hold their positions, to work in our schools, because they discredit the many fine and outstanding teachers that are doing their job but are being overshadowed by this rotten core.
Throughout, the welfare and education of students is woefully disregarded by those put in charge. Another example in our county is that of Sleaford, here Carre's Grammar School, Kesteven and Sleaford High School and St George's Academy, uniquely feed a joint sixth-form consortium, but it seem, this is now being broken up.
Local councillor Marianne Overton of the Lincolnshire independents was not impressed and said, "I am outraged at the sudden splitting of the joint sixth form, without consultation and at great cost to the young people whose education is on the line here. It is vital that we do not lose these young people to other areas, undermining the strength of the whole service in Sleaford. This education needs taking in hand and giving the young people the excellent teaching they deserve and will make our society thrive in future."
What is clear, is that there has to be a major rethink on our education policy and how we run our schools, with help and assistance to our dedicated teachers and instant dismissal to the poor ones.
After all the children being taught today are our future.
