It seems that the expectations of what a school teacher is supposed to do when a fight breaks out in a schoolyard is masked in " political correctness ". The headmaster of Collarenebri school in western New South Wales will no doubt be relieved that the education department has announced that he will " not be disciplined " for his actions in breaking up a fight !
Two fourteen year old girls set about each other and the headmaster called to another teacher to " Grab one of them ". The second girl continued to attack the girl being held and the headmaster crash tackled her to the ground. All this was recorded on the ever present camera phones - and other students seemed keen to let the fight continue.
The girl the headmaster crash tackled was Aboriginal, and her father complained about the action taken. He complained that this " was not right " - and referred the matter to the education department for disciplinary action.
The big question that goes unanswered is - " Just what action is a teacher supposed to take when a fight breaks out and there is a chance that one of the participants may be injured ? "
Suppose this teacher had not intervened. Suppose he had merely demanded that the girls discontinue the fighting and that the more powerfully built girl had managed to inflict a serious injury on her opponent. No doubt that headmaster would have been severely criticised for his lack of action to breakup the fight.
We seem to be heading towards an interpretation of the rules that infers that there must be no physical contact of any kind between a teacher and students. That seems to apply to the sporting field as well as the classroom. Most teachers in today's world think that giving a distressed student a hug or a pat on the back is to be avoided - because it could be interpreted as some sort of sexual move. Political correctness has introduced the spectre of " suspicion " to loom over any display of human kindness.
It seems that our world of schooling is degenerating into a sterile division of " them and us " when it comes to relations between teachers and their charges. This well publicised case from Collarenebri will reinforce the option that when a fight breaks out, stand back and use voice commands - but under no circumstances become physically involved, no matter what injuries are likely to happen as a result of the fight.
A teacher taking that course of action could become the subject of a disciplinary hearing - for failing to keep order in the school yard. No wonder teaching school is fast becoming " Mission Impossible ! "
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