WTF is happening to us?

[Ian]

What makes a couple of 12 year olds even think about hitting a primary school teacher over the head, then robbing her of $400 and her keys?

.................................and no, I am not having a go at the area the school is in, if it happened there it could happen anywhere, most schools have their bad eggs.

I know there is a few teachers on here, what are your thoughts?

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/primary-students-bash-rob-teacher-at-swallowcliffe-primary-school-davoren-park/story-e6frea83-1225834616655

[Footy Chick]

A good argument to bring back the strap, I say.

Time out...pfft!

[CK]

I was horrified when I heard this last night on the news. First thing I thought was how much things had changed since I was at school. I went to a state primary school, then a Catholic Primary school for three years, before a Catholic High school and can't think of a single instance where any of this would/could have occurred. The way times are changing is extremely sad.

The hardest part nowadays for teachers/school staff is that children can quote the "you can't touch me or I'll sue you/report you" etc card when asked to do something perfectly within the rights of the teacher. When I was at school, I got smacked with a ruler or a yardstick, and not only deserved it at the time, but never considered reporting it or seeking retribution. It was something that was a way of punishment then (in moderation) and was accepted by kids.

The onus of blame now seems to lie firmly with teachers/school staff, who in many instances, seem powerless to act for fear of retribution.

[Dirko]

I'd like to know what sort of standards the parents of these kids are setting at home.

I'd also be real interested to see what action is taken by the relevant parties and how these criminals are treated.

IMO, society in general is too soft, and needs a good dose of HTFU punishments....

[A Mum]

This is both bad and sad

What I have heard is this teacher was 'targeted' for earlier disciplining a group of students.

I believe it comes down to 'society' again and what the kids percieve as 'normal' or 'acceptable'
These 'kids' obviously had no respect for the teacher, the school, or discipline in general.

There needs to be bigger consequences for these type of behaviours.

[fisho mcspaz]

It'd be nice if the state government could fund a program for parents (i.e. how to be one) or something! This should not be happening at school.

[interested observer]

I'd like to know what sort of standards the parents of these kids are setting at home.

I'd also be real interested to see what action is taken by the relevant parties and how these criminals are treated.

IMO, society in general is too soft, and needs a good dose of HTFU punishments....

We are victims of all these do gooder groups that instil the "you can't do this to us, you can' t do that to us... We have rights"...
There is absolutely no respect at all for any positions of authority..
School , work or on the streets..

Get back to giving people in authority the power to deal with these socially inadequate monkeys properly...

But, hey these kids have had a tough upbringing..!!!!

Pfft ... What a load of shite....

[Footy Chick]

This is half the reason I didn't finish my teaching degree (the other half was laziness )

But I'm fairly old school when it comes to kids and am very happy to admit that I'd have no qualms in belting any child of mine if they completely stepped out of line.

When I was a kid, If I was naughty, I got a smack - now, I like to think of myself as fairly normal and have been brought up to respect elders, yada, yada yada. Belting kids does not make them axe murderers/manic depressive/more likely to commit crime

Punishment needs to be brought back into schools to make up for the lack of discipline kids get at home. School is a place where children should be taught not only the 3 R's - but also respect and integrity.

I know a lot of you folk wouldn't agree with much of the above.

I'm sure those of us in our 30's and older would remember having a healthy fear of some of our teachers. Wouldn't happen today - and everyone whinges because they want a pay rise... it's called danger money nowadays.

[Drop Bear]

[quote="SJABC"]I'd like to know what sort of standards the parents of these kids are setting at home.

I'd also be real interested to see what action is taken by the relevant parties and how these criminals are treated.

IMO, society in general is too soft, and needs a good dose of HTFU punishments....[/quote]

[GWW]

It was interesting to read some of the suggestions made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Pallaras in the paper last weekend.

I think he'd actually make a good Attorney General.

[Ian]

But, hey these kids have had a tough upbringing..!!!!

Pfft ... What a load of shite....

A lot of them probably have had a "tough upbringing", but so have a lot of kids that would never behave in this way.
I really don't think it's the tough upbringing that leads to this sort of behaviour, thats just a cop out from the kids, parents and do gooders, it's a lack of respect shown by their parents/gaurdians/role models etc. that has been passed on to these kids.
If people in authority could demand respect from a early age, and deal out "appropriate punishment" without fear of being charged for abuse, a situation like this may never have occured in the first place.

[nuggety goodness]

This is half the reason I didn't finish my teaching degree (the other half was laziness )

But I'm fairly old school when it comes to kids and am very happy to admit that I'd have no qualms in belting any child of mine if they completely stepped out of line.

When I was a kid, If I was naughty, I got a smack - now, I like to think of myself as fairly normal and have been brought up to respect elders, yada, yada yada. Belting kids does not make them axe murderers/manic depressive/more likely to commit crime

Punishment needs to be brought back into schools to make up for the lack of discipline kids get at home. School is a place where children should be taught not only the 3 R's - but also respect and integrity.

I know a lot of you folk wouldn't agree with much of the above.

I'm sure those of us in our 30's and older would remember having a healthy fear of some of our teachers. Wouldn't happen today - and everyone whinges because they want a pay rise... it's called danger money nowadays.

i'm with you on that one FC... even the bible says to smack your kids...

'Spare the rod, spoil the child'

most of my mates were brought up copping a belting and IMO we're better for it. it teaches limits and boundaries. (i just always had to push those limits, hence the hidings!!!)

nowadays we joke about the hidings we copped, if certain kids got the same treatment i used to get, man would they scream!

[Wedgie]

It all comes back to the fact some people should not be allowed to breed.

[A Mum]

I have seen it first hand and I'm sure some of 'our' teachers on here and experienced it or seen it too.

If a child is 'naughty' to the extent where the parents are needing to be called in - the parents (in some cases) turn on the teacher (In front of the child) and defend the childs 'naughty behaviour' and all of a sudden it becomes the teachers fault

So what does this 'show' the child - lack of respect - It's just crap.

Actions = consequences really needs to come back in !

Yesterday my 14 year old came home whinging and complaining how much he hates his 'home group' teacher.
And I asked him why - he said - because he made me pick up papers for not getting my diary signed-
I'm like - SO
Actions = consequences - you didn't get your diary signed - you pick up papers,
if you don't want to pick up papers tomorrow - then it's your responsiblity to get your diary signed !!

I'm not saying I'm the perfect parent -
but I can imagine some parents going on about yes the teacher is in the wrong for something so trivial - but it's the trivial that we need to get back to?

[Ian]

It all comes back to the fact some people should not be allowed to breed.

That is correct, but it is not all of the problem, if someone behaves outside of the rules, someone in authority should be able to hand out appropriate punishment (consequences) without fear of being charged

[mighty_tiger_79]

kids deserve to be severely disciplined with belts etc

[Footy Chick]

I have a feeling our own Pag might teach at this school.... I know he's out that way somewhere..

[Strawb]

Whats new and this will keep on happening they will get slap on the wrist from the judge and they will become societies problem. The do gooders aren't doing good they are harming society and this problem will keep on happening. all a child has to do if they don't like getting told off is go to school and say mum or dad hit me and thats it in comes the police and child wellfair and the children are telling the truth not lying.
Not that long ago I told one of my twins if he didn't behave he wasn't getting a hotwheels car and i got told off by someone who didn't know me and said i was being unfair to him. I looked at them and said I am his father if he doesn't learn how to behave now what hope will i have later on when he is older. I continued on with Children need to learn boundries and its up to parents to teach them. Then I asked them do you have children? The response was no, and my next question was if you had children would you let them behave like he is now? and all they said was no i wouldn't. I walked away thinking WTF. So there you go

[Pseudo]

i'm with you on that one FC... even the bible says to smack your kids...

'Spare the rod, spoil the child'

And in this case I'm prepared to agree that the bible speaks wisdom.

My old man kept a sturdy stick in the corner of the kitchen. If I had been a naughty boy - not an uncommon occurrence - I was commanded to "go and get the stick". Like Jesus himself, I had to bring the implement of my own torture to my own personal Golgotha. My old man is a hardcore catholic; the scripture was not wasted on him. After handing over the weapon, there would be much lecturing about my sins, gesticulating with the stick all the while... until suddenly it was brought down heavily on my legs or arse. If I was lucky then the old man was quick and he'd connect first strike. If I was unlucky then I'd have enough time to react and involuntarily get my fingers in the way first. This hurt like all buggery; and while I was screaming and shaking my newly sore fingers, the old man would make a second strike on the intended target.

This form of discipline was unpleasant, certainly. Nevertheless it endowed me with a mortal fear of physical discipline. I lived in constant terror of getting the 'cutts' at school, and consequently was the most well-behaved little swot. I still managed to cop a teacher's palm on my arse once or twice * - and in all cases the behaviour which led to said application was altered.

Decades after those heady days, and now being a father myself, I occasionally joke to my old man that he should give me the stick as a hand-me-down, a family heirloom. I could belt my kids with the very same implement that was used to belt me. In one of life's great ironies, he is absolutely mortified by the idea. I get the impression that he thinks he was a little too heavy handed and that physical discipline ought not be administered as freely as he did.

To which I say - sod that. A good belting is but one weapon in the arsenal of parental discipline. Admonition, being sent to one's room, losing property or priveliges are also such weapons and usually preferable. Rest assured however, IF and WHEN the time comes, I shall not hesitate to apply the slipper to one of my own kid's arses.

[Choccies]

Lost for words.......... apart from one - disgusting.