The Irish National Teachers Organisation is to seek new legislation which would make it possible for schools to enforce codes of discipline. It has also been arguing that schools should be given the power to compel certain students to undergo a psychological assessment.
At present, schools do have codes of discipline, but they are only enforceable if parents agree to them. Now, the three teachers’ unions are saying schools should have the power to remove unruly pupils; to compel parents to attend at school when requested to deal with a problem; and they should be able to compel certain students to undergo psychological assessment. Teachers argue that these assessments can help find out the cause of disruptive behaviour.
Discipline has been a major focus at this year’s INTO Easter congress in Galway. While teachers can face criminal prosecution for striking a child, they feel there is not enough support to help them enforce discipline in other ways.
