Shocking rise in pre-school violence

18 November, 2008, 10:35

Violent assaults on teachers and fellow pupils have led to an increasing number of under five year-olds being suspended from schools throughout England.

During the past 12 months there has been a significant increase in the number of children under the age of five that have been suspended from school due to violent misconduct. 

According to government figures, a total of 4,000 pupils aged five and under have been suspended from schools in England during the last 12 months.

But what is as equally as worrying as the age of the children being suspended and even excluded, are the reasons behind the dismissals. The data revealed that the majority of offenses carried out by the youngsters were attacking teachers and fellow pupils, persistent disruptive behavior, bullying and even sexual misconduct. Ten children under the age of two were suspended for behaving violently towards other very young children.

Although the recent figures disclose that there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of children suspended five times or more, there has also actually been a drop of 13 per cent in the number permanent exclusions.

The figures were gathered in response to a parliamentary question by shadow schools secretary Michael Gove. The Conservatives blame the rise in repeated suspensions on the lack of power for headteachers. Mr Gove said, “The number of young children being suspended from school is shocking. Ministers have eroded teachers’ ability to keep order by restricting their powers to deal with disruptive and violent children.”

But Schools minister Jim Knight hit back affirming that the figures show that teachers have the power to take the appropriate action. He commented, “Michael Gove is clearly out of touch with schools. The majority of powers he is calling for already exist. Far from removing powers from teachers, Michael Gove is well aware that we have boosted their powers, with the full support of the teachers and heads.”

These statistics are undeniably shocking and inevitably lead to the question: who is to blame for such worrying behavior? And are children being sent to school too early before they have been taught to behave properly by their parents?

Celia Birchby is a headteacher at Hirstfield Primary School in Cheshire, which is located on a notoriously “rough” estate in Cheshire. According to Mrs Birchby although most of the pupils at her school generally behave very well, there have been certain occasions of very young children assaulting other children and adults. These incidents are of course very difficult and are always dealt with in a vigilant and careful manner. On one occasion one four-year-old boy was excluded because of repeated aggressive outbursts including throwing chairs and biting, which jeopardized the safety of the school. The exclusion outraged the mother of the boy who insisted that her son showed no signs of aggression or hostility towards others at home. Julie Rogers, the child’s mother commented, “My boy would never normally bite or hurt other kids. The school and the teachers are to blame as they have obviously provoked him in some way.”

In this obviously “delicate” case the child came from a troubled background whose father has a history of violence and is currently serving a sentence in prison. According to child psychologist Michael O’Grady most incidents of this nature involve children who are from troubled social backgrounds. Celia Birchby is the first to admit she hates to see any child being suspended or excluded from school but regrettably there are little other options than to dismiss a violent child. She said,      “The exclusion of the child was a last resort and was not carried out lightly, but ultimately the health and safety of the rest of the school takes priority.” 

“Although the local authorities blatantly disapprove of the exclusion of pupils, particularly the very young ones, when a child is risking the safety of fellow children and staff you are left with little alternative.”

Psychologist Michael O’Grady has had over twenty years experience of children with severe behavioral problems. According to Mr O’Grady aggressive children, even as young as five and under have always been present in society and probably always will be. He commented, “Every incident of young children with severe behavioral problems has some institutionalized traits. Teachers cannot be blamed for a child bringing their problems into the classroom.”

To argue that children are being sent to school too early without being adequately disciplined by their parents may be unfair. Or even to suggest, like the Tory government, that the problem lies with the lack of power given to teachers, may not be the answer to the reasons why large numbers of very small children are being suspended from schools throughout England. Perhaps greater cooperation between teachers, social workers and parents may alleviate the problem. But ultimately teachers are there to teach and it is the role of parents to socialize their children.  

Gabrielle Pickard for RT