The case of a 14-year-old Munster student, who threatened his teacher with a hammer, underlines the difficulties facing schools as they deal with serious indiscipline.
The pupil in question has a history of classroom violence. Last year, his school moved to expel him but the student and his parents successfully appealed the decision, as they are fully entitled, under Section 29 of the Education Act. There have been other incidents of indiscipline since the student returned to the school last month. Some of his teachers are known to be angry and concerned about his return. But it seems little can be done to improve the situation.
There are several issues in this case which need to be addressed. The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) is rightly concerned that the school was directed to take the pupil back, when he poses a serious health and safety risk to the community of teachers, pupils and parents. The union has set the agenda on school discipline in recent years. Indeed, the recent Task Force on Student Behaviour was in large measure a response to the "discipline crisis" it has exposed.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has responded swiftly to the taskforce report by promising to establish behavioural support teams in some 50 schools on a pilot basis from September. She has also pledged to amend Section 29. Her plan is to tilt the balance of the legislation in favour of the overall needs of the school community. This should make it easier for schools to expel difficult students. It may be that she needs to go further, as the TUI suggests, by banning any reinstatement for pupils who have been violent towards teachers or fellow pupils. Teachers and pupils must have an unfettered right to work and learn in a peaceful environment.
In all of this, the student at the centre of this case also requires support and rehabilitation. The school, to its great credit, did work on a behaviour management plan devised by a psychologist from the National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS). But, as a TUI/UCC study highlighted yesterday, provision in this area is inadequate. Among the six schools surveyed, the highest level of dissatisfaction was with the provision of psychological supports to enable them manage disruptive and disengaged students, and provide for their learning needs. Many staff believe that specialised help is needed for a number of students, and that schools' existing resources are not sufficient for this task. The survey estimates that more than 200 psychologists are required, an increase of over 80 on the current number. The Minister should respond positively to this report.