As funding cuts dig deeper into the educational sphere, there have been growing concerns that teachers are now feeling subdued in classes with students exhibiting bad behaviour. As a result, teachers and schools are struggling to cope.
A survey conducted by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) reported worries that the growth of bad behaviour in schools was equal to a rise in emotional, behavioural or mental health problems in children.
Some within the association commented that this was due to the violent verbal assault and sexual content that is gradually rising in social media, which is resulting in deteriorating behaviour. It wasn’t necessarily the social media that was brought into question so much as the attitudes that were becoming popularised through it.
It was revealed earlier this month that two-thirds of local authorities had reduced their funding for children’s mental health services since the political coalition in 2010. A freedom of information request by the YoungMinds charity found that 34 out of 51 local authorities which responded said their budgets for children’s and young people’s mental health services had been cut, one by a shocking 76%. With services now acting with a skeleton crew however they can, it is no surprise that children’s mental health is now starting to show a significant rise.
It means that teachers now have to struggle and cope with disorders that are unique, complex and impossible to understand at a glance. With 90% of teachers reporting that they have been abused verbally, mentally or physically; with no outlets or assistance, children and their overseers are being put through motions that are beyond them, with no help from any other sources.
The backlash caused by the numerous cuts are starting to take their toll. With such shocking displays of indifference, there is a question of what futures are being held for schoolchildren across the UK.
Comments are closed.