Teachers no longer to 'jump in' to school fights

A DISCUSSION on the role of teachers during physical altercations between students drew surprise and concern from members of the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) during their first meeting of the new academic year.

Director of Schools, Paddy Flood, informed members that national guidelines for teachers on this issue have changed and are being updated. “If you see a row going on in the yard, do not get involved,” he advised.

“If you see a child getting beaten by an older child, you’d feel like jumping in, and I’d like to think I’ve a duty of care, in loco parentis, but I can see why, with Tusla and everything, the advice is do not get involved,” a teacher member of the Board, Mr Colm McCormack said.

Fine Gael councillor, Alan Johnston, was incredulous. “So, you see a child getting an awful battering and you can’t get involved?” he asked.

“It’s to protect teachers against allegations to other agencies,” Mr Flood explained.

One of the four main roles of an ETB schools director is to support school leaders through targeted continuing professional development and quality assurance systems.

“There is an active discussion going on across the country right now,” the CMETB director continued.

“If parents or an individual bring an allegation of a physical nature between x and y, schools will professionally deal with this, but sometimes it goes to other authorities.

“If you see a child in danger, you are in loco parentis and that still stands, but you have to be more careful,” Mr Flood said.

“When a fight happens, it feels like it is in slow motion, but it happens in milli-seconds,” Mr McCormack said.

“You are in the position of a prudent parent,” Mr Flood interjected.

The Latin term in loco parentis means ‘in the place of a parent’ and in legal terms, it grants educational institutions such as colleges and schools discretion to act in the best interests of their students.

Michelle Flynn, a teacher in Virginia College, asked for teacher training in this area.

Mr Flood said new guidelines on physical contact would be issued but that training “has not been provided”.

The Director of Schools said the new guidelines also include advice for teachers about the use of physical restraint on pupils with additional needs.