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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pupil fight warning for teachers | Pupil fight warning for teachers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A teachers' union is planning to write to all of its members warning them not to intervene in playground fights. | A teachers' union is planning to write to all of its members warning them not to intervene in playground fights. |
| The union said the "final straw" came when Glasgow City Council refused to let an injured teacher take time off to complete dental surgery. | |
| The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association said staff would now be less inclined to break up disputes. | The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association said staff would now be less inclined to break up disputes. |
| Glasgow council said it judged claims on their individual merits and advised staff to not put themselves at risk. | Glasgow council said it judged claims on their individual merits and advised staff to not put themselves at risk. |
| The SSTA's move comes six months after a 58-year-old teacher was accidentally punched in the mouth when she intervened between two children at a special school. | The SSTA's move comes six months after a 58-year-old teacher was accidentally punched in the mouth when she intervened between two children at a special school. |
| Her dental surgery has so far cost about £2,500. | |
| 'Final straw' | 'Final straw' |
| The union is sending advice to its 8,500 members across Scotland warning them to think carefully before stepping into similar situations. | The union is sending advice to its 8,500 members across Scotland warning them to think carefully before stepping into similar situations. |
| Ann Ballinger, general secretary of the union, said: "Our original advice was for her to go through the normal procedure with the council. | Ann Ballinger, general secretary of the union, said: "Our original advice was for her to go through the normal procedure with the council. |
| Advice is given to staff to consider their own safety and not put themselves at risk or any danger in a particular situation Glasgow City Council spokeswoman | Advice is given to staff to consider their own safety and not put themselves at risk or any danger in a particular situation Glasgow City Council spokeswoman |
| "We were stunned when the response was to say it was not the council's responsibility. They said they hadn't been negligent. | "We were stunned when the response was to say it was not the council's responsibility. They said they hadn't been negligent. |
| "Our member never claimed the council had been negligent, we never said that." | "Our member never claimed the council had been negligent, we never said that." |
| She added that the SSTA was now considering legal action to support the teacher. | She added that the SSTA was now considering legal action to support the teacher. |
| The union's advice will be issued to Glasgow teachers within a week, and to other union members in Scotland shortly after. | The union's advice will be issued to Glasgow teachers within a week, and to other union members in Scotland shortly after. |
| Ms Ballinger said: "We are advising teachers to be very careful. They have to be aware that the employer may not support them financially." | Ms Ballinger said: "We are advising teachers to be very careful. They have to be aware that the employer may not support them financially." |
| The council said safety was taken seriously and staff are advised not to put themselves at risk. | The council said safety was taken seriously and staff are advised not to put themselves at risk. |
| A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "All claims are judged on their individual merits. | A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "All claims are judged on their individual merits. |
| 'Professional duty' | 'Professional duty' |
| "Advice is given to staff to consider their own safety and not put themselves at risk or any danger in a particular situation. | "Advice is given to staff to consider their own safety and not put themselves at risk or any danger in a particular situation. |
| "We take the safety of our staff very seriously." | "We take the safety of our staff very seriously." |
| The Scottish Conservatives said the decision by Glasgow City Council had "worrying implications" for school discipline across Scotland. | The Scottish Conservatives said the decision by Glasgow City Council had "worrying implications" for school discipline across Scotland. |
| The party's schools spokeswoman, Liz Smith MSP, said: "It will give no comfort to teachers and head teachers who, quite rightly, believe it is their professional duty to act firmly and fairly when it comes to addressing indiscipline. | The party's schools spokeswoman, Liz Smith MSP, said: "It will give no comfort to teachers and head teachers who, quite rightly, believe it is their professional duty to act firmly and fairly when it comes to addressing indiscipline. |
| "Parents will be alarmed by the fact that teachers might feel reluctant to intervene when a fight breaks out. | "Parents will be alarmed by the fact that teachers might feel reluctant to intervene when a fight breaks out. |
| "We need radical measures to improve discipline in our schools, not pander to those who seek to cause trouble." | "We need radical measures to improve discipline in our schools, not pander to those who seek to cause trouble." |