Te Radar: Union strikes a blow in the war on classroom terror

I probably shouldn't mention it, for fear of being accused of inflaming truculent behaviour in children, but it has been reported that our teachers have been informed by their union that it is perfectly acceptable to turn their backs on our children and simply abandon them in mid-lesson.

It seems that teachers can down pens and stride from their classrooms if they feel that their students are too unruly, and in particular, if they feel their safety is threatened. "Strike if you fear being struck" seems to be the union's rallying cry.

That the union has okayed the admittance of defeat is outrageous.

It is only a matter of time before this public proclamation from the PPTA will find its way into the knowledge pool of the students, among whom will be a faction who will no doubt then see just how far they can push their traumatised teachers before they snap.

Teachers claim they are increasingly encountering what they describe as low-level chatter. This sounds like the kind of indications of terrorist activity before the US announces a heightened terror alert.

It is, teachers say, indicative of a lack of respect in society.

Little wonder that some schools are demanding the right to spank their kiddies.

One in particular, Tyndale Park Christian School, has even requested that parents sign permission forms giving their consent for staff to administer what they describe as corporal correction.

This was defended by many associated with the school, including a number who stated that we should obey God's law, not man's. It seems that the God they believe in advocates a good, well-structured, disciplined wallop as an essential form of chastising children.

In this case, Christian clout is to be administered via a leather strap on the hand.

To be fair, the school also states that after administering the strapping, the disciplinarian should stay and talk with the child. That has to make for some pretty awkward smalltalk.

Apparently, they should also pray together. I suspect the child will be praying not to let the strapping happen again.

Of course, this claim has come out at the same time as state primary schools are being told there is no place for religion in their curriculum, unless it is in the form of karakia. It seems that these practices are fine so long as they are spiritual and not overtly religious. I hadn't realised there was a difference. Little wonder teachers are stressed.

I was never physically disciplined at school, but as a prefect at a state boarding school I was required to officially witness the caning of younger transgressors; thankfully, only once.

It turns out that I wasn't the only witness, however, as several of my peers snuck out to view the procedure through the open curtains. I guess if I hadn't been staring at them so intently, rather than scrutinising the thrashing, they wouldn't have been caught. Or caned.