The National Union of Teachers conference in April heard of schools hiring bouncers for classrooms. The magazine of the NASUWT, previously reported on the problems which teenaged gangs bring to many schools.
The main conclusion was that, because gang problems often have their origins in the communities in which the schools are located, schools cannot be expected to spearhead combating gang culture, but can only work in conjunction with other agencies. Related to poverty and poor parenting, the evidence is of gangs being formed around divisions of race or background within communities and that, therefore, teachers should address equality, diversity and community cohesion within the classroom. But this alone can’t solve the problem.
All this is very right and laudable. But surely there were two problems which were being overlooked.
The re-emergence of heavy shepherds
What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …