Half of teachers attacked by pupils in UK: Survey

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

London, Feb 23: Nearly half of teachers have been physically abused by pupils and more than 90 percent have been verbally abused, a survey revealed today.

Threats within the classroom have taken their toll with 37 per cent of the 433 teachers surveyed missing work because of injury, stress and depression, the survey by the Teacher Support Network found.

A total of 49 per cent of teachers who responded to the independent charity's survey said they had been physically abused in school, while 92 percent said they had been verbally abused.

Last year, a survey of 173 teachers showed 20 per cent had suffered physical assault, and 84 percent had suffered verbal abuse.

Among those who had suffered physical abuse in the latest survey, 53 per cent had been assaulted with a thrown object, 26 per cent with ''weapons'' such as furniture or equipment, two per cent with a knife and one percent with a gun.

The attacks included stabbing with scissors and nails, attempted strangulation, hands trapped in doors, and one teacher who had a fire extinguisher turned on them, the network added.

Some 39 per cent of respondents had had their personal property, such as cars, clothing and books, defaced or broken.

Patrick Nash, chief executive of the group, said: ''Fortunately, extreme cases of violence and abuse are rare and only two per cent of calls and emails to us focus on pupil indiscipline.

''However, for those teachers seeking our support, the effects of violence and abuse can be devastating.'' The network called for measures to prevent violence such as codes of conduct on behaviour ''with clear and consistentsanctions''.

Reuters

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