Kristine Ellis of Gosnelle, WA, Reader's Comment 6 of 6, Editorial: Lessons to end teacher exodus, The Sunday Times, 19 February 2011: http://www.perthnow.com.au/opinion/editorial-lessons-to-end-teacher-exodus/story-e6frg41u-1226008650514 Historical link preserved from the original page.
West Australia: parents laugh when children bite and bruise their teachers.
I am now in my 5th year of teaching, at my 3rd school in Western Australia.
I didn't think I'd make it past my first year and don't believe I'll hang in for Long Service Leave because of the conditions.
In general I like my job. But people who believe that teachers have a 9-3 job need to spend a week with a teacher. Then they will see how much is involved.
Although the perk is flexible hours, I usually work 7am-4:30pm. I work weekends & holidays from home - planning, marking, typing behaviour management & individual Education programs for struggling kids -lots of whom have parents that aren't interested in helping their child at home because it's the teachers job only!
Daily, teachers are confronted with offensive language, bad behaviour, physical assaults, and abusive parents.
When a 5y/o child calls you a FU#$!%& CU@# BI!?& and all you can do is tell them you find their choice of words sad & make a note on their record - it's extremely disempowering.
It's worse when you are physically assaulted and the parents laugh at the bite marks and bruises.
I'm not 100% sure the cane is the answer but there is a need for more effective strategies in place for teachers that make students think twice.