Traditional notions of respect for state institutions and their employees are in short supply these days. Schools are no exception.
A recent teacher-union survey [NASUWT, Sept. 2023] found that 37 per cent of respondents experienced physical abuse or violence in the previous 12 months. 97 per cent reported backchat and rudeness.
A more general lack of respect for what schools have to offer is made clear by persistent pupil absenteeism. It is currently running at over 20 per cent.
And lack of respect for schooling is not confined to pupils. Many parents, too, seem happy for their kids to bunk off; not least for term-time holidays.
Chris McGovern, Chairman of The Campaign for Real Education and a retired headteacher believes there is a lack of respect in school nowadays
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Nor is disrespect for schooling found only amongst pupils and parents. One detects it too, in the current teacher-recruitment crisis.
Add to that, the record number of teachers who are leaving the profession before retirement [nine per cent last year] and it is clear that a lack of self-respect within the profession is also a growing problem.
If a country wishes to see its economy in 20 years’ time it needs to look at its education system today. That is the considered judgement of the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development].
The belated restoration of classroom phonics for teaching literacy, argued for decades ago by the Campaign for Real Education, has been a rare success story in recent years.
Like most of the Western world, OECD tests measure our 15-year-olds as lagging three to five years behind the highest attaining pupils in the world – in the Asia Pacific.
Our economies are in danger of following suit unless we fix our schooling, now.
The foundation for that improvement and ‘catch-up’ is a restoration of the respect for teachers and for schooling that is so evident in good schools both in the UK and around the world.
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McGovern blames the current teacher-recruitment crisis as one of the reasons behind this
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It is especially true of those high-flying super-star education systems of the Asia Pacific.
So, where do we start? First of all, we need to understand that in any school, someone is going to be in charge. It helps if it is the headteacher.
Churchill once observed that head teachers have powers at their disposal with which Prime Ministers have never yet been invested.
They need to use those powers to ensure that it is good order that prevails and not an anarchic free-for-all.
How about dealing with absenteeism, for example, by having attendance recorded on a School Leaving Certificate that is available to prospective employers and universities?
Such a certificate could also cover behaviour and, even, respect for teacher and classmates. It might even be part of the process of transfer between primary and secondary school.
McGovern also believes absenteeism is one of the root causes
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As a headteacher I found that it worked wonder to have a quiet word with a pupil or parent that I could be relied upon to write them an honest reference.
Discipline and good order, so craved by most pupils and parents, is the foundation for restoring to teachers the respect that they, in most cases, deserve.
To recruit, to motivate and to retain good teachers a substantial pay rise is going to be necessary. Not only will it enhance respect for the profession, but it can also be paid for out of the existing budget.
Teachers currently constitute a minority of staff currently employed in schools. This is an absurd and untenable situation.
A reduction in teaching assistants will fund a teacher pay increase. With fewer classroom assistants teachers will need to use the more effective ‘whole-class teaching methods characteristic of Asia Pacific and once usual in the UK.
Well-ordered schools, improved teaching methods, better-paid and highly respected teachers, and the consequent rise in attainment would be ‘win-win’ for education and for the economy.