`With the authority of the Catholic Church diminished, it's hard to find anything to take its place. Young people need something or someone to respect and look up to and they haven't found it, or been given it.'

`Because teaching has become more democratic, as teachers respond to the needs of the modern child, classroom management has become more difficult.'

`We control crime. Many young thugs who would otherwise be breaking up cars are being confined in classrooms by teachers during the day.'

`Children will misbehave in front of your eyes and then lie and challenge you to prove they did it. They see the politicians and church people who should be their role models doing the same thing.'

`Our generation was so disciplined, so set upon, that we've gone the other way with our own children and given them too much leeway. We can't be their friends, we must be parents first, and teachers.'

There's a general attitude that the teacher is the student's servant, and they will say this to you.'

`If parents don't support teachers on bullying then it's a lost cause.'

`Teachers need the support of society and parents, but this is made difficult because schools tend to keep quiet about bullying. We're all afraid of appearing to whinge.'

`Bullying of teachers is not confined to students. Principals and management will often abuse power and bully teachers too. Too many principals are too anxious to please parents at all costs.'

`The declining status of the teacher has to do with them being seen as people who don't even earn as much as a young digital manipulator.'