P0NTIUS PILATE GILRUTH WASHES HANDS OF MOUNTING VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS

By Democrat reporter

Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said violence in schools was a “really tricky challenge” and not an issue she could “solve overnight”.

In an interview with BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, the SNP minister said solving the issue of rising violence in schools required “partnership” and “working together”.

However, opposition politicians have said Gilruth has “sought to wash her hands of the problem” by appearing to suggest it was up to local authorities to decide how to deal with violent pupils throughout the interview.

She also admitted she had not read a report published earlier in the week showing a third of the 800 teachers surveyed in Aberdeen had been attacked in their classrooms.

The Daily Record launched the Our Kids… Our Future campaign a year ago after a series of shocking attacks involving children.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – FEBRUARY 18: Jenny Gilruth MSP, newly-appointed as Scottish Minister for Europe and International Development in Nicola Sturgeon’s mini-reshuffle this week, in the lobby of the Scottish Parliament on February 18, 2020 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ken Jack/Getty Images)

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, EIS Secretary James Halfpenny and Pam Duncan Clancy, Labour education spokesperson.

They have been speaking to victims, their families, police, experts and young people themselves to find out how we can all play a part in tackling this damaging trend.

Presenter Martin Geissler asked Gilruth about the report released by the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS), the country’s largest teaching union.

The Education Secretary, who herself was a secondary Modern Studies teacher prior to being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016, said that it would not be “wise” to predicate the national approach to behaviour management in Scotland based on one local survey.

Gilruth said she did not “shy away from the challenge” presented by the increase in poor behaviour and insisted the Scottish Government was working with local authorities to produce a national action plan to tackle the issue.

Geissler then put it to her that the EIS Aberdeen had not heard directly from her or the local authority.

The Education Secretary said it was “a bit strange” that Geissler had commentary from the EIS in Aberdeen on the issue, adding: “It wouldn’t be for me as cabinet secretary for education to engage with local associations, but I do engage with, very regularly, (general secretary) Andrea Bradley at a national level.

“What I would say is that this is a snapshot from one local authority area, we should look at the national picture.”

Geissler said the BBC was “completely overwhelmed” with responses from teachers, parents and staff about their report with some describing classrooms as “lawless”.

Gilruth said young people should not be “demonised” and that care was required over the use of language, but Geissler said what he was putting to her was “testimony”.

She was then asked if she believed the numbers in the survey, where she revealed she had not looked at the specifics from the research conducted in Aberdeen because it would be a matter for the local authority.

She said: “The appropriate response here is for Aberdeen City Council — “However, I do accept the challenge on this matter. That’s why back in May I committed to a number of summits focused on behaviour and relationships in our schools. I’m also engaging with a number of key stakeholders on this issue.”

Scottish Labour education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy said Ms Gilruth was “ignoring” concerns of teaching unions and had “failed” to bring forward a plan to tackle violent behaviour.

She added: “The fact is that this is an out-of-touch government that is more concerned with shifting the blame than acting to make our schools safe.”

Today (Wednesday) commenting on the news from education committee that Glenn Carter of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists has said that the SNP has not engaged with them over pupil behaviour, Pam Duncan-Glancy said: “As violence in schools increases, the fact that the SNP government has failed to engage with key professionals over how to make our schools safe is staggering.

“All behaviour is communication – but this SNP government has ignored Speech and Language Therapists and routinely cut the number of Educational Psychologists. At the weekend we learned that the Cabinet Secretary hadn’t read key documents – now we learn that she hasn’t enlisted key people who could help. Scotland’s pupils and teachers deserve better.”

EIS Secretary in West Dunbartonshire, James Halfpenny, revealed 70 per cent of teachers here have experienced physical violence.

He told The Democrat: “Staff often find themselves in a state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged workload. They feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, unable to meet constant and unrealistic demands, leaving them demoralised and disconnected, leading to greater stress and ill health.

“Working many extra hours unpaid, staff clearly feel undervalued. The failure to tackle increasingly violent behaviour in the classroom and aggressive and threatening responses from some parents has had a significant impact on staff’s feelings of wellbeing.

“Schools and nurseries are seriously underfunded for resources to help those many children with additional support needs. Staff are left to cope in situations that cause great stress and anxiety leading to ill health and absence. This Freedom of Information report comes as no surprise.

“According to the survey carried out by the EIS, 70 per cent of teachers in West Dunbartonshire have experienced physical violence; including slapping, punching, kicking, hair pulling, biting and having objects thrown at them.

Bite marks left on one teacher’s arm

“The survey also found that 90 per cent of teachers felt the unmet needs of pupils who require additional support exacerbates violent, aggressive or disruptive behaviour.

“And it concluded by revealing that 80 per cent of West Dunbartonshire teachers who took part in the survey have considered leaving the profession. This situation is reflected in schools throughout the country.”