BEHAVING BADLY
June 26, 2006 2:41 PM
Martin Vye, Liberal Democrat Education spokesman
At the meeting of the County Council on Thursday 22 June, Martin Vye, Liberal Democrat Education spokesman, and Canterbury County Councillor, accused the Conservative administration of KCC of 'staggering complacency'.
Martin said: "Disruptive behaviour in schools can cause great harm to the education of our children. It was reported to us at the meeting that the number of children permanently excluded from Kent primary schools this last year was 54, almost double the number in the previous year, and yet the administration had the nerve to gloss over it, saying this is a "minimal number". In fact, these figures mean 54 classes disrupted by the abnormal behaviour of a single child. That means 54 schools where headteacher and staff have, over a long period of time, had to divert their attention to trying to contain a child causing not only disruption, but also damage, and sometimes harm."
"These are not ordinarily naughty children. Our primary schools are perfectly competent to ensure that the vast majority of children observe boundaries, and create a stable atmosphere for learning. These are children with exceptional behaviour patterns - because of deep emotional disturbance, ADHD, autism - and sometimes all three."
Martin went on to say: "It went from bad to worse. During the same Council meeting we were shown the Conservative administration's plans for the next four years. This is what they have to say about behaviour: "We will work with headteachers to encourage a zero tolerance approach towards disruptive behaviour". The implication of this is: "all we have to do is stiffen the backbone of headteachers and we will stamp out disruptive behaviour." I find this offensive. In these extreme cases, which are the ones we are talking about, headteachers do not need slurs on their professionalism; they need specialist support."
"The law says parents can choose mainstream primary schools for their children, even if they have severe emotional and behaviour problems. The number going into primary schools is going to increase. Unless the administration gets its act together, and creates a team of specialist teacher-therapists, trained to degree level, available to go into schools when and for as long as schools need them, then more schools, more classes are going to suffer."