Hello my name is Andy. I have been working for 1st note education since it first began and have been a teacher both in primary and secondary for many years. On a weekly basis I will post news and blogs with teaching tips and conversation starters. Please feel free to check out the website, add to conversations or topics discussed, and hopefully find useful the teaching tips and teaching strategies that will be added.
Should school gates contain airport scanners???
It seems a barbaric and almost shocking way to start the website, and I did have something else planned for the first edition, but it is current news, its now, and it is something that all of us as teachers need to be weary of.
At 08:55 BST, Mr Vincent Uzomah (a supply teacher) of Dixons Kings Academy, was stabbed by a 14 year old boy. The 50 year old teacher, who is thought to have only been working at the school for four weeks, was stabbed once in the stomach with a knife. The incident was to have taken place during a science lesson, amidst rows over a mobile phone. After the attack, the 14 year old student went on the run, until an extensive manhunt was carried out and the pupil was later arrested in the city centre. Reports say that the teacher was attacked in front of all of his students. An investigation is underway regarding the attack, with student witnesses being questioned by specially trained police officers. Nick Weller, Principal of Dixons Kings Academy, gave a news report of the incident in a conference. He quotes “it happened right at the beginning of the school day and there were some students who witnessed it.” He continues to say “those students have been interviewed by the police. Obviously it’s a very shocking thing for them to see. The general atmosphere in the school is very calm, quite orderly, we’re trying to keep to normal routines as much as possible.” Mr Weller then explains that there seems to be no lead up to the attack, following further police investigation.
The education secretary Nicky Morgan comments that any violence in schools is “totally unacceptable” further adding that her department is “ready and prepared to offer all necessary support”.
 
So here are the questions fellow teachers…
Why did it happen? How did it happen? How did a pupil smuggle a knife into school? Why did a pupil bring a knife into school? Was the boy attacking provoked or unprovoked, and why is that a reason to stab someone? And over a mobile phone? How and why did the incident happen so early in the school day? (08:55)
We can delve into this even further…
The boy was excluded from his last school… what was he excluded for? Are there issues at his school he cannot cope with… bullying? Peer pressure? Stress? Are there issues outside of school for the boy… home troubles? Illness? Gangs? Other stresses? Does the pupil have any special educational needs?
The solutions…
What can be done to prevent this from happening again? Can it be prevented from happening again? How could it be prevented? Who is responsible to make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Lots of questions for you to add your opinions on!!!! (Please comment)
It seems we as teachers are moving into times where we are becoming more vulnerable. Let us not forget that it was only last year in 2014 that school teacher Ann Maguire was stabbed to death by a 16 year old pupil at a school in Leeds. No recent cases have come up in the primary sector that most of us teach, however, how long will it be before they do? I have seen primary children with SEN lash out at teachers on more than one occasion. Not to mention some of the colourful language, behaviour and attitude from other children. But that is a whole new blog!!! We as teachers need to be weary and vigilant of everything!! If a situation looks like it is about to explode… defuse it!! Keep calm, keep cool, keep composed… and as musicians we all know what composers do!!!
(All quotations and adaptations were taken from www.bbc.co.uk/news and www.telegraph.co.uk)
(Next blog) Thinking of becoming a teacher? Are your practices a bit rusty? Need a little guidance maybe?
Take a look at my top teaching tips ;0)
Andy T