An Aberdeen primary teacher has called on local councillors to prioritize addressing violence in schools rather than focusing on banning mobile phones. Doug Haywood, a teacher at Gilcomstoun School, expressed concerns about the alarming reports of violence that have left pupils feeling “too scared” to attend class. His comments came during discussions about Aberdeen City Council‘s anti-weapons policy, amid revelations of at least 1,500 violent incidents in primary schools over the past year.
Haywood emphasized the need for decision-makers to redirect their efforts towards tackling the root causes of school violence. He acknowledged the importance of discussing classroom safety but cautioned that the debate had veered off course. “I’m not sure mobile phones is really where we should be putting our energy,” he stated. Instead, he highlighted issues like child hunger that affect student behavior and concentration.
The teacher noted that many educators, including himself, often buy snacks for students who arrive hungry, which can significantly impact their ability to focus in class. “It’s heartening to hear the idea of zero tolerance of violence, but we need to address the real issues,” Haywood added, referencing a student from last year who was fearful of attending school due to violence.
As the council’s education chief, Shona Milne, presented her findings, she faced criticism from various stakeholders, including trade unions and local leaders. Milne’s report suggested that pupils’ hunger between breaks and lunch could contribute to aggression in classrooms. She pointed out a spike in violent incidents around 11:00 AM, proposing that children may become irritable when hungry or after engaging in social interactions.
While Milne acknowledged that hunger is one possibility, she noted it is not the sole explanation for the surge in violence. “Another possibility is that they’ve had some social time with peers, which can lead to dysregulation from incidents that might have occurred at break time,” she explained.
Despite attempts to address the underlying issues, council member Christian Allard found the conclusions drawn from Milne’s report to be lacking. He voted to incorporate insights from the report into future council policies aimed at improving behavior in schools, but not without expressing skepticism about the explanations offered for the violence.
Union representatives, including the EIS teachers’ union, are preparing to release their own survey to shed light on the extent of violence faced by educators in Aberdeen schools. Joint branch secretary Ron Constable criticized the notion that hunger could explain the significant number of physical assaults, stating, “These are quite serious assaults that can lead to serious injuries.”
Labour party officials have also raised concerns about the lack of consequences for students who engage in violent behavior. Kate Blake, a Labour representative, emphasized that the report fails to address the need for sanctions and consequences for extreme violence. She recalled previous complaints from teachers about the absence of disciplinary measures for violent incidents.
Blake stated, “No teacher, pupil, or support staff member should feel unsafe in the classroom,” asserting that a zero-tolerance policy for violence is essential in ensuring a safe educational environment.
In response, the education convener from the Lib Dems criticized Labour’s focus on classroom aggression as “absolutely unacceptable.” He pointed out that, despite the reported incidents, Aberdeen schools are performing better than those in nearby areas like Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. He argued that the numbers of students misbehaving are relatively small and that it is crucial to understand the underlying issues driving their behavior.
With approximately 30,000 pupils in the city, he emphasized the need for context when discussing violence and antisocial behavior. The council remains committed to exploring ways to protect teachers and staff while addressing the complexities of student behavior.
The ongoing debate highlights the urgent need for a collective approach to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff in Aberdeen’s schools. As discussions progress, many are hopeful that actionable solutions will emerge to combat the rising tide of violence in classrooms.
