§ 8. Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new measures she is taking to help schools to enforce firm discipline. [20130]
§ Mr. Robin SquireWe have recently announced funding for a programme of more than 60 projects to identify and promote effective ways in which to tackle pupil behaviour and discipline problems in schools. The projects are expected to run for three years at an overall cost of around £18 million.
§ Mr. Duncan SmithNotwithstanding what my hon. Friend has just said, does he agree that teachers, if they are to improve standards, need to have orderly and well-behaved classes? Is not one of the real problems, and a matter of major concern for all of us, that many teachers find it difficult because parents do not agree to allow them to exercise the amount of discipline that is necessary? Is it not time that we got parents to sign up to some form of agreement under which they will allow teachers to exercise the age-old tradition of in loco parentis?
§ Mr. SquireI agree powerfully with the thrust of my hon. Friend's comments. There is no doubt that a small minority of parents neither instil sufficient discipline in the home nor support teachers in their difficult job of ensuring that schools are properly disciplined places. That is why, over and above the measures that I announced in my first answer, we are actively investigating ways in which better to give teachers greater disciplinary powers within the classroom.