A clear case of shooting the messenger
The news that a supply teacher is to be suspended after releasing video footage of children in her class causing significant disruption is alarming for several reasons. Although the manner of the release, to a TV company, has rankled the authorities it is doubtful whether the content of the situation would have had the same impact if it were not screened.
The time spend by a teacher in dealing with the disruptive element in a class is teaching time lost to the balance of the class wanting to learn. Perhaps this should be dealt as an offence, but please no quaint terms such as “joyriding” use erroneously to describe vehicle theft. There is no joy for the vehicle owner faced with disruption, increased premiums or policy excess charges. Equally, disrupting a class is a theft of education for the remainder wanting to learn that can have long lasting dire consequences and should be dealt with accordingly rather than just shooting the messenger.
