KEY POINTS:
Primary teachers are meeting this weekend to discuss how they can deal with the number of verbal and physical assaults they suffer from pupils.
A recent report for their union, the NZEI, found one in seven teachers or support staff reported one or more physical assaults in 2006.
National president Irene Cooper believes families must be brought more into the equation. She says parents need to help instil their children with respect for teachers and encourage acceptable behaviour at school.
She says staff are becoming less confident dealing with disruptive children, who often threaten teachers with police action.
"Children now will turn around and say 'get off me, that's assault. I'm going to tell the police'; and teachers are being put in the situation where they're not sure what can happen to them as a result of trying to manage difficult behaviour."
Members are holding meetings in Wellington to discuss ways to manage disruptive students and protect staff.
- NEWSTALK ZB
