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The sad death of Ann Maguire raises the question: how dangerous is teaching? The sad death of Ann Maguire raises the question: how dangerous is teaching?
(1 day later)
Last week, teacher Ann Maguire was stabbed to death by a pupil in the classroom. Why her? "She didn't deserve to die," said one of her pupils. She had spent her whole working life at this school, was much loved by students past and present, and did much more than teach Spanish and religious education. She seems to have been a friend, support, mother–figure and constant in so many of their lives. Her teaching was much more than just a job, and her overwhelmingly sad and unjust death has set people thinking about teachers again. Last week, teacher Ann Maguire was stabbed to death in the classroom. Why her? "She didn't deserve to die," said one of her pupils. She had spent her whole working life at this school, was much loved by students past and present, and did much more than teach Spanish and religious education. She seems to have been a friend, support, mother–figure and constant in so many of their lives. Her teaching was much more than just a job, and her overwhelmingly sad and unjust death has set people thinking about teachers again.
This is more about an alleged murder, probably involving a disturbed child, rather than education, but how dangerous is teaching? How difficult and complicated? At its best, it is what Mrs Maguire did. Staying in the one school for decades, she gave generations of children confidence, security and love. Like many teachers, she deserved to be greatly valued, for sticking at one of the most difficult jobs going. There are a lot of unhappy children out there, and a teacher spends his/her time in one room with 30 pupils, some of whom are going to be disturbed or distressed. It would be a miracle if a teacher got through the week without some disruption or upset, sometimes from parents as well as children.This is more about an alleged murder, probably involving a disturbed child, rather than education, but how dangerous is teaching? How difficult and complicated? At its best, it is what Mrs Maguire did. Staying in the one school for decades, she gave generations of children confidence, security and love. Like many teachers, she deserved to be greatly valued, for sticking at one of the most difficult jobs going. There are a lot of unhappy children out there, and a teacher spends his/her time in one room with 30 pupils, some of whom are going to be disturbed or distressed. It would be a miracle if a teacher got through the week without some disruption or upset, sometimes from parents as well as children.
I've had parents banging on the staffroom door and roaring along corridors, wanting to thump me. Teaching in an inner-London comprehensive in the 70s, Fielding and I patrolled playgrounds in threes with a walkie-talkie, just in case. It was sometimes frightening, but you can't afford to be afraid. Even Mr Drew, the excellent headmaster from Educating Essex and now Mr Drew's School for Boys, admits that "it does cause me fear", but he gets on with it, extraordinarily successfully.I've had parents banging on the staffroom door and roaring along corridors, wanting to thump me. Teaching in an inner-London comprehensive in the 70s, Fielding and I patrolled playgrounds in threes with a walkie-talkie, just in case. It was sometimes frightening, but you can't afford to be afraid. Even Mr Drew, the excellent headmaster from Educating Essex and now Mr Drew's School for Boys, admits that "it does cause me fear", but he gets on with it, extraordinarily successfully.
I don't know the answer – hopefully more and better mental health provision, early support for families, smaller classes, more classroom assistants; but most importantly, better understanding of, and respect for, teachers. But not police patrols and metal detectors in every school. That is not the legacy Ann Maguire would have wished for.I don't know the answer – hopefully more and better mental health provision, early support for families, smaller classes, more classroom assistants; but most importantly, better understanding of, and respect for, teachers. But not police patrols and metal detectors in every school. That is not the legacy Ann Maguire would have wished for.