War on Bovver boys and girls

EXCLUSIVE Powers for teachers to deal with school yobs
By Vincent Moss
Sunday Mirror
Apr. 01, 2007

TEACHERS are getting a raft of powers this week to tackle the "Am I Bovvered?" generation.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson insisted the measures were vital to stamp out bad behaviour, violence and truancy.

He said the crackdown would help teachers deal with unruly yobs who emulated comic Catherine Tate's surly teenage character Lauren.

From tomorrow, teachers can dish out Saturday detentions to truants and other youngsters who misbehave. They can also give lunchtime and after-school detentions without asking for a parent's consent which they are forced to do now.

The new powers will allow them to confiscate items such as mobile phones and ipods which regularly disrupt classes. The clampdown will help combat "cyber-bullying" - where children send threatening text messages to other youngsters and "happy slapping" where kids are filmed being beaten up.

Among the most controversial measures, teachers will be allowed to physically restrain aggressive youngsters and turf them out of the classroom.

They can use "reasonable force" to break up classroom fights when a youngster or teacher risks being injured. At present, teachers fear any physical contact with pupils could be subject to legal action from angry parents.

Mr Johnson told the Sunday Mirror: "These new powers are aimed at unresponsive and aggressive kids whose attitude to discipline owes much to the "Am I Bovvered?" character made famous by Catherine Tate.

"Most kids are well-behaved in school, but we want to take action against those who are consistently rude, disruptive and disrespectful. They're making life miserable for teachers, and spoiling it for children who do want to learn.

Teachers now have a clear legal power to act swiftly and decisively against troublemakers. It means kids who step out of line can expect to be appropriately punished."

Teachers will have new powers to search youngsters for weapons - without a need to call in the police. They'll also be able to discipline youngsters who create trouble away from class - such as on school buses or in shopping centres.

The new laws will not allow teachers to smack children, insisted officials.

Some teachers fear the new powers could put them at greater risk of attack, and unions want schools to publish clear guidelines.

A source close to Mr Johnson said: "One problem has been children have always said to teachers, 'You can't touch me, I know my rights'. Teachers will now be given the powers to physically restrain aggressive youngsters.

"It is something we believe will improve classroom discipline."

TEACHERS WILL:

Confiscate mobile phones used for happy slap attacks

Dish out Saturday detentions to truants & disruptive pupils

Be allowed to use reasonable force to break up class fights

Get the right to search for weapons without calling cops