I am profoundly concerned that teacher Angela Mason has been found guilty
of professional misconduct for taking a secret camera into London
classrooms and filming the appalling behaviour of the pupils (5 July).
If any film was in the public interest, this was it. The film took care not
to identify individual pupils but did highlight the complacent management
of many of our schools. What Mason suffered as a supply teacher is endured
by many in the profession across the UK. Usually they are too scared to
report poor behaviour because they will be blamed by the school’s
management for letting it happen. In Mason’s case, the full of weight of a
duplicitious educational establishment in the form of the General Teaching
Council has tried to crush her message. Will any teacher who now admits
that there is bad behaviour in their class be hauled in front of the GTC?
Schools must start to become more honest about the behaviour that is
blighting their classrooms, so parents are aware what needs to be done. But
in addition to this, we need to open up the state education system monopoly
by allowing enterprising teachers to set up their own schools in direct
competition with the poor ones, and let parents decide which is best for
their child. Only then will the problem with poor behaviour disappear.
Francis Gilbert, author, The New School Rules.