'Normal' pupils new at-risk group, say principals

By STUART DYE, education reporter

Growing numbers of unruly primary school children are destroying teachers' resolve and paralysing the education of their better-behaved classmates.

Teachers are spending an increasing amount of time and energy dealing with "crowd control" and behaviour management, rather than teaching and learning, according to the Principals' Federation.

Larger numbers of emotionally disturbed children are taking up a significant amount of teachers' attention, the federation says.

And that impacts on the rest of the students, whom federation president Kelvin Squire said now made up a new at-risk group.

"Teachers are being told to improve their teaching practice but at the same time are responsible for a raft of social issues which keeps them from doing their job," he said.

"In turn, the other children in the class do not get the access to the teacher they need."

Every primary school principal contacted by the Herald agreed there had been a significant increase in anti-social behaviour, particularly among younger children beginning school.

The Auckland Primary Principals' Association met yesterday to discuss dealing with growing behavioural problems. President Anne Malcolm said more research would be done into how to counter the issue.

"Every primary principal in Auckland is looking at ways to eliminate children's behavioural problems. We have to be honest and say there is a problem and look at ways around it," she said.

Elm Park School in east Auckland has hired a counsellor. The school board paid for the post at the beginning of this year.

"Already we are seeing a huge improvement as the counsellor is a professional dealing with emotional problems, leaving the teachers to do their job," said deputy principal Carolyn Osborne.

The biggest increase in troublesome youngsters was among 5-year-olds starting school, she said.

"There's a big difference between a naughty child and one with severe emotional problems. It's the latter we are seeing increasing."

Mr Squire believes the core of the problem is New Zealand's high rate of poverty.

"They do not have the language to articulate their feelings and so it manifests in bad behaviour."

The British charity Young Minds says bad behaviour in pre-teen children can be triggered by long periods without supervision, erratic and harsh discipline, rejection by the parent or not enough parental involvement.

"More needs to be done to help children facing these problems and therefore protect them, their classmates and the education system as a whole," said Mr Squire.

Almost one-third of all children in New Zealand live in poverty, says Children's Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro. The figure has risen over the past 15 years and includes some 20,000 who live in homes with no heating.

"Taking that as an example, there are practical, flow-on problems for those children's education," Dr Kiro said.

Work was being done to improve the situation, such as the Government's housing policy for low-income families.

"The Government has also signalled its intention to provide direct support to those families in its coming Budget."