Disruptive children need the opposite of isolation in school | Letters

Isolating children should have no place in any establishment that professes to prepare them to take a meaningful place in society, says Nigel Shaw. Disruptive pupils need one-to-one attention, adds Penny Jaques

Having taught and mentored in a tough south London primary school for most of my working life, I feel qualified to comment on the use of isolation as a means of dealing with disruptive pupils (Alarm as more schools use ‘degrading’ isolation booths, 18 January; Letters, 20 January).

Over the years, staff tried various methods to control these “difficult” children, one of which was to have them sent to my classroom, where they became calm and behaved appropriately. They were isolated from their peers but remained within the school society. Why did their temperament change? Because they felt secure. They knew they were valued and would be cared for; feelings that foster respect.

Continue reading...

from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2RyexUu