Modern-day pupils 'behave better than children did in the 1970s'

CHILDREN in primary schools are better behaved in class than their counterparts 30 years ago, according to new research.

The long-term study found a "fairly steady" upward trend in behaviour. However, the results contradict recent statistics that showed violent attacks by pupils were rising.

Brian Apter, one of the educational psychologists involved in the new research, said the the improvement was due to better teaching and greater verbal encouragement.

He said that had helped pupils pay more attention in class, with a particular improvement since the 1980s. However, he added it was difficult to make comparisons to classroom behaviour prior to the 1970s.

The findings were based on observations of more than 70 educational psychologists in 141 classrooms across the country.

Key to the improvement were teachers and their constant verbal engagement with pupils, which has been described as a "motormouth" approach. The technique means pupils are less likely to be distracted or behave badly in lessons.

Mr Apter, a district senior educational psychologist at Wolverhampton City Council, said: "Primary teachers work incredibly hard now.

"It's something that educational psychologists often comment upon. They are engaging pupils around the classroom; they seem very much compelled to get results."

The study of students and teacher behaviour in primary classrooms was presented by Mr Apter at a psychology conference in Glasgow. It was based on how many pupils in a class were following the teacher's instructions and how many were not.

However, teachers' unions have long said the biggest challenge for staff is disruptive and violent behaviour from pupils.

Figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act last month revealed the total number of recorded incidents, including verbal abuse, had risen by 4.3 per cent last year.

Physical attacks on teachers and pupils rose by 2.2 per cent between 2005-6 and 2006-7.

The highest number of violent acts was in Aberdeen, with 485 incidents last year.

Other areas that saw a sharp increases were Highland, with 149 incidences of physical violence reported last year, against 79 in 2005-6, and Borders, which saw a rise from 19 incidents in 2005-6 to 164 last year.

A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council attributed the high incident rate to the "scrupulous reporting" by teachers of any attacks, however minor.

Similarly, a spokeswoman from Glasgow City Council said its low incident rate – eight incidents in 2006-7 against 64 the previous year – could be due to teachers not reporting every minor attack.

A spokesman for the EIS teaching union said at the time: "The Scottish Government and local authorities must acknowledge this serious problem and take urgent action."

But he warned a far greater problem for schools and teachers was persistent, low-level indiscipline by pupils.

The Scottish Government said the next national behaviour-in-schools survey would be more extensive and the results of that would be provided by 2009.


BACKGROUND

POLICE officers have been based at several schools across Scotland in increasing numbers to help improve behaviour.

Northfield Academy in Aberdeen was one of the first schools to introduce the measure.

Supporters say it can dramatically improve pupil behaviour and change the "us and them" attitude of some pupils towards police.

There are now about 46 "campus cops" working in at least 50 schools across 11 local authorities, with many planning to expand numbers.

However, the scheme has attracted criticism.

Members of the EIS, Scotland's biggest teaching union, last summer voted overwhelmingly for tougher limits on the powers of campus cops amid fears teachers were being used as informers.

Recent financial constraints have forced councils to consider cutting back on the scheme as most of them have contributed to the cost.