When people become teachers, they expect to guide and sometimes discipline students. Experiencing daily violence, however, is not something they anticipate.
In a South Wales school, teachers are striking due to violence from students. A reader suggests that addressing the problem starts with making sure kids and their parents understand how bad this behaviour truly is.
Meanwhile, checked the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector lately? A recent episode of Coronation Street has shown viewers why they should and one reader shares why going without in the cost of living crisis isn’t so bad…
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Counselling, fines and apologies
Teachers are going on strike at a school in south Wales, saying they are being used as ‘punch bags’ by pupils (Metro, Wed).
Staff at Pencoedtre High School in Barry blame a £34million refurbishment, saying the new open-plan layout leads to larger groups gathering and more fights.
There have been 136 exclusions at the 1,100-pupil school since September.
Instead of being excluded, there should be counselling or a course that the children have to attend to discuss their behaviour and how it could be addressed.
Also, the parents should have to attend a course or be invited in for a discussion with school staff.
There are usually deep social issues or unidentified ADHD/autism traits around this that exclusion and penalties don’t deal with in the long term.
There should also be a discussion and apology with the teachers involved – and maybe a fine for families where physical violence has been used. Tina Cumberlidge, via email
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The local council shows no respect for teaching staff
The children terrorising the teachers might be stopped if the headteacher wrote to each parent, and had the ability to fine the parents for the child’s behaviour. It seems extreme but this has to end. Anne, London
So, the teachers are going on strike and the local council is ‘disappointed’.
Once again, a local council shows zero support to staff. How about the authority getting off its backside and dealing with a growing issue in many schools.
The parents/carers are 100 per cent at fault. The authority needs to sit them down, explain what needs to improve and give ultimatums if their precious ones do not improve.
I feel sorry for the well-behaved students and their parents. Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a follow-up story, where the local authority had taken action and huge improvements seen at the school. Paul G, Hockley
I am pleased Coronation Street is highlighting the silent threat of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in a storyline featuring Adam Hussain’s Aadi Alahan.
As a gas safe engineer, I am concerned with the number of householders who are not aware of the dangers of exposure.
Around 40 deaths are reported each year due to carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales.
CO alarms are the most effective at detecting hazardous gas, providing an alert that can save lives.
It is imperative to highlight the importance of proper detector installation, maintenance, and usage. TV shows like Corrie, serve as powerful platforms for disseminating crucial information and raising awareness of this issue will no doubt save lives.
However, prevention is better than detection and regular boiler maintenance by a qualified person is essential. Toby Burton, Silsoe
Good that Fujitsu will pay up – but what about everyone else?
Good to read that Fujitsu will pay up for the disaster its faulty software wreaked on hundreds of decent honest postmasters’ lives (Metro, Wed).
Now I want to see every single Post Office manager involved stripped of any titles they were given and made to return every penny of their bonuses and a chunk of the pay they received in the decades since the disaster began.
And while I’m here, I’d like to see all those MPs made aware of the scandal, but who did nothing, repay any wages. As for the lawyers, don’t get me started! David Reed, London
Why is giving over a billion pounds to Ukraine for their fight against Putin’s Russia in 2024 (which is deserved and right) easy but when immediate compensation for those victims of the Post Office scandal was raised during prime minister’s question time, the answer was given that ‘payment of compensation is very complex’. It’s actually not – and certainly not 20 years’ worth of complex. Mary Whittle, Liverpool
Always look on the bright side…
The cost-of-living crisis is hitting us all hard, especially those on lower incomes, but it does have some advantages.
I’m eating a virtually meat-free diet due to the cost of fresh meat, which is good healthwise, plus I am benefitting the environment (unfortunately less fresh fish too, though, but tinned fish can be nutritious).
I purchased an air fryer, which saves on energy and cooks just about anything healthily, also helping the environment.
With rising energy prices, I only heat one room at a time plus have invested in UPVC windows, which keep out draughts and conserve heating, also more environmentally friendly.
I was already only using my washing machine when I had a full load plus washing at a lower temperature on a shorter cycle.
With no longer leaving appliances on standby, I think I have just about got it covered but if anyone has any other suggestions I would be glad to hear them. (Also I don’t drive or own a car, preferring walking or public transport.) Christine Finn, Sunderland
Hard to make peace with people of bad intent
With regard to the situation in Gaza, Mat (MetroTalk, Thu) accepts that it’s ‘complicated’ but goes on to suggest it’s just about ‘making incremental concessions to try to keep [and make] peace’.
The trouble is that, firstly, Israel is dealing with Hamas, an organisation whose sole unconditional aim is to destroy the state of Israel and, secondly, Israel has negotiated with the Palestinians before making numerous concessions, but they were just not interested unless they got everything they wanted.
Mat’s intent is good, but the people Israel is having to deal with are not.
Paul, London
Rob from Reading (MetroTalk, Wed) asks what Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas attack should have been. It should have been proportionate. It has not been. Mike, Glasgow
Should we be expecting inflation to reach five, six, seven per cent in the coming months?
If there are more political complications in the Middle East, and with Houthi rebels in Yemen firing on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, then the cost of petrol – and anything petrol related – will only go in one direction… up! Is seven per cent even too optimistic? G Jarvis, Manchester
As a British voter I’m apparently not interested in the NHS, the dental service, democracy, exports, law and order, councils, transport, housing, and a list of other things being destroyed. All I’m interested in is 100 people going to Rwanda. What boat did these Tory idiots come in on? Mick, West Midlands
I am 77. In 2016, my wife and I voted for Brexit because we thought it would be better for my daughter and grandchildren. We now realise what a mistake we made. Things would be so much better if we had stayed in the EU. If we could rejoin on similar terms we would be in favour. Perry, Barnstaple
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