Angry 5-yr-olds main concern for educators

TTTPA president and Hora Hora School principal Pat Newman

Five-year-olds who are so angry they kick and bite their teachers at the slightest provocation are among the behavioural issues schools are under-resourced to deal with, a Northland principal says.

Lack of support for special- and high-needs pupils was cited as the single biggest concern of 35 per cent of 104 principals who responded to a survey by Te Tai Tokerau Principals' Association (TTTPA). Safety issues and stress caused by pupils with behavioural problems was the main issue for 14 per cent of principals, while 16 per cent said their biggest concern was getting assistance from outside agencies.

TTTPA president and Hora Hora School principal Pat Newman said the "damning" result reflected teachers' day-to-day reality.

His own school had three staff dedicated to high-needs pupils. They were necessary not only to support the pupils themselves, but in some cases to protect teachers and other children, he said.

"There are lots of schools needing to do this. We have an increasing number of 5-year-olds who are so angry - they are fighting, biting, kicking. This isn't high school, it's 5 to 10-year-old kids," he said.

"They are biting kids and staff. Throwing things, from chairs to books. If anyone looks at them sidewards, then punching. You've also got to remember that these teachers have 25 other children in that class." One child had threatened to kill a principal, he said.

The additional $129,000 of Government money given recently to keep the beleaguered Whangaruru charter school afloat could have funded more than 7000 hours of support for high-needs pupils in Northland, Mr Newman said.

"Don't tell me there is no money available, it's obviously there when it suits."

In answer to why he thought violence was worsening, Mr Newman said the "cold hard reality" was that it often stemmed from poverty and home environments.

Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said that the ministry would be talking with local principals about their concerns.

"We fund special education services in Northland at a higher rate than other parts of the country because we know schools and families there face particular issues," she said.