WHAT is evident from the outbreak of strike threats by teachers over unruly pupils, is how their profession lacks real support in dealing effectively with the disruptive.

For though there may be an element of copy-cat behaviour in the sudden spate of teacher action in different parts of the country, this response points to another grim fact.

It is that of the tearaway classroom louts being a fact of life in so many schools.

The crux of this issue is that of teachers demanding the sole right to decide who they should teach.

In the face of the difficulties and stresses to which they are exposed that response may be understandable, even though it may not be the right one.

But does not their anger also speak of their frustration that the disciplinary sanctions employed against the disruptive do not work? Yet they are expected to suffer the consequences, especially if the parent of such a child insists on the right of their offspring to continue to be taught at a school where he or she is not wanted.

Teachers may yet have to be given back the sanction that corporal punishment once provided in the classroom - and that may yet come about through the legalised home-school contracts to which, in future, all parents may have to agree before their children are given a school place.

Certainly, the evidence is now that the disruptive minority in schools can wreak mayhem as lesser forms of discipline have so little effect.

As a result, all over the country, more and more teachers are saying:" Enough!"

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