OPINION: The mad hatters are now in control of our classrooms

Five-year-olds are ruling classrooms since ministry guidelines on restraint have been implemented, says Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association President, Pat Newman.

A teacher is not even allowed to lift a five-year-old up and carry them out when they throw things and in the middle of a tantrum now. Instead, we are supposed to leave them and remove all the other children!” says Pat Newman, President Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association.

“A child can be utterly destroying a room, and all the other children’s work, and the same applies,” he continued. “Its cuckoo land!”

Newman released the following statement listing his thoughts on Ministry guidelines:

– last year we identified 1079 children (primary) at the top end of behavioural concerns due to unresolved trauma and abuse suffered

– where P is rife in some areas and in most schools to quite a degree

– where we can claim to have the highest suicide rate for our young compared to the rest of NZ

– where we have a huge number of very small schools in very isolated areas, in very low socioeconomic communities.

and what help did we get?

– Counsellors? No

– Mental health Facilities to cover needs? No

– Sufficient staffing to ensure the safety of staff and children from other children? No

– Access to absolutely required resources/resourcing? No

BUT WE DID GET: Guidelines on restraint! That…

– Made it far harder for us to ensure the safety of all children and staff.

– Given us little option but to stand down or (I still call it) expel in many cases.

– Handed over control of our schools to any child that wishes to push the boundaries and knows the rules.

That was really helpful wasn’t it…

In Wellington, last week, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Education to review these Guidelines. We can only hope and pray that those making the decisions actually apply common sense for once.