Disrupt the class... leave the class!

“Education is the key to a better tomorrow. Somehow, we've allowed disruptive students to steal valuable learning time from their classmates while teachers are denied the authority to stop them," says ACT Candidate Paul Henry, announcing new policy to address classroom disruption.

"How can we expect teachers to administer world class education if we are not providing them with world class support?

“Around half of teachers face disruption in every lesson. Forty-seven per cent say they lose 40 to 50 minutes or more a day dealing with it.

“New Zealand has recorded some of the lowest disciplinary scores in the OECD. And here’s a tragedy: ERO says poor behaviour is driving good teachers out of the profession.


“Most students behave well and want to learn. They should not have their education held hostage by a minority who refuse to respect their teacher or classmates. We should not be pandering to the disrupters. We should be supporting teachers and education.

“ACT will give teachers a clear legal power to direct seriously or persistently disruptive students to leave the classroom.

“The principle is simple: disrupt the class, leave the class. Refuse a lawful direction and the matter escalates. There will be real consequences, not woke complacency.

“At the sharp end, disruption becomes violence, threats, intimidation, bullying or deliberate destruction of school property. Teachers and students should not be expected to put up with that. Teachers are not bystanders in a classroom, they are in charge, and I want them to feel supported and respected.”

ACT will:

• Give teachers the power to remove disruptive students: Teachers will have a clear legal power to direct seriously or persistently disruptive students to leave the classroom and go to a staffed, supervised space.

• Back teachers who act reasonably: Staff will be protected when they use reasonable and proportionate intervention to prevent harm or the destruction of property.

• Set firm consequences for assault: Assaulting a teacher, student, or other member of school staff will trigger immediate removal and a mandatory stand-down or suspension. Serious assaults will be referred to Police Youth Aid.

• Make parents share responsibility: Parents will be required to engage when behaviour becomes serious or repeated, and may be held liable for deliberate property damage caused by their child.

“This is not about returning to corporal punishment or locking children away. Removed students will remain supervised, and any physical intervention must be reasonable, proportionate, and backed by law.

“When the school system allows a disruptive few to wreck a whole class, it fails every child who plays by the rules.

“A teacher’s job is to teach. ACT will give them the authority to get on with it.”

Editor's note: ACT's full policy, 'Strengthening teacher authority and stopping class disruption', can be found here.