Category: Press Releases

  • HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS CONDEMNED – 27 December 2003

    HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS CONDEMNED 

    Harassment within Scottish Secondary Schools is on the increase says the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association.

    “Harassment cases show the biggest upward trend among problems likely to be faced by Scottish secondary teachers. In 2003 the number of individual cases rose by over 40%. Only malicious complaints against teachers showed a trend approaching this figure” said David Eaglesham, General Secretary.

    In giving reasons, he continued “Harassment often arises simply from the stress of the job but individual trends within harassment cases are also apparent. The gender cases (most clearly the bullying of junior female teacher by senior members of staff) continue to be the largest group. There seems, however, to be unfortunate trends in the harassment of more senior staff by juniors.

    The clearest trend, however, has been in the harassment of staff by pupils and parents. In many of these cases, the mechanisms to protect staff are inadequate. There requires to be a greater involvement on the part of certain authorities in the protection of staff, both teaching and non-teaching. Many authorities will attempt to restrain parents who harass by the use of formal warnings in writing and this approach is to be commended. Some authorities, however, are far too reluctant to address such harassment. There is too much emphasis given to “rights” of parents and pupils and too little to the protection of employees.”

    Mr Eaglesham continued by noting a recent SSTA decision relating to the training of senior staff. “It is clear that authorities, despite claims that they have in place procedures relating to harassment, need to do more. Harassment cases can be handled at school level only where senior managers are properly trained. The provision of a Harassment Policy alone is not enough.”

    Further details from:David Eaglesham

    General Secretary

    27 December 2003

  • UNION WARNS ON FUTURE TEACHER SHORTAGES – 30 December 2003

    UNION WARNS ON FUTURE TEACHER SHORTAGES

    The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association today warned local authorities not to risk future teacher shortages by reducing management posts in schools.

    “Many local authorities, for reasons best known to themselves, have recently decided to reduce the number of management posts in secondary schools. This particularly affects Principal Teacher posts, although senior management posts are also being reduced.

    These reductions, now and in coming years, will not only reduce the effectiveness of school management in the short term, but are also likely to store up future problems for recruiting staff”, said David Eaglesham, General Secretary.

    “With almost half of secondary teachers due to retire within 10 years, there will already be a serious recruitment problem over that period. Doubling the impact of this will be a smaller recruitment pool of potential staff”.

    “Those local authorities who compound this problem by laying waste to their career structures in schools will find it even more difficult to recruit new staff as teachers will opt to work in authorities who do offer some prospect of career advancement through management posts. Where such a choice exists, the losers will be the authorities who are currently destroying management structures. Ironically, they may then have to repeat the 1970’s strategy of creating new management posts simply to attract new teachers.”

    The Association believes that acting wisely now will avoid storing up such problems for future years.

    Further details from:David Eaglesham

    General Secretary