Specially-trained teachers needed for violent children

A taskforce is compiling guidelines for and school staff when dealing with a child whose behaviour poses a risk to themselves or their classmates. Photo / Thinkstock

Designated staff members should be specially trained to restrain violent and unruly pupils, a leading secondary school principal says.

A taskforce is compiling guidelines for teachers and school staff when dealing with a child whose behaviour poses a risk to themselves or their classmates.

The working party's guidelines are due to be released later this year.

Taskforce member and principal of Rotorua's John Paul College, Patrick Walsh, said in his 30-year teaching career he had seen and heard of many violent incidents; including pupils bringing weapons such as hammers and screwdrivers to school, schoolyard fights and parents assaulting their child or other children on school grounds.

Walsh — an executive member of the Secondary Principals' Association of New Zealand — said it was imperative selected school staff were trained on how to safely and legally restrain unruly children.

Several principals had spoken to him of fears held by school managers and teachers about being charged with assault or being the subject of a Teacher's Council complaint if they became involved, Walsh said.

"Clearly they're looking for answers and I think the working group's an opportunity to discuss those and come up with appropriate guidelines," he told the Herald on Sunday.

"The study's being conducted at the moment, they've got a researcher visiting schools to look at best practice, they've got the legal division of the [Education] ministry and Crown Law looking at what's lawful in this area, and then they're looking at best practice overseas.

"I think it's a very good initiative, and it's important to stress it doesn't happen a lot, we're dealing with the extreme end of behaviour."

While police would be called to serious incidents, including those involving weapons, Walsh said it was important staff had the skills to deal with a violent student before authorities arrived.

Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said the guidelines would focus on seclusion to manage the worst incidents.

Teachers would be given scenarios to show how to respond when faced with a situation in class.

The working party includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, Education, Child, Youth and Family and educationists.