But JG...teachers do not have any power. They are bound by many constraints. What they can teach is dictated by the National Curriculum. The way they deal with badly behaved pupils is governed by rules and regulations. And many teachers are subject to the whims of their Heads, some of whom are not concerned with their teachers or pupils, but only concerned with their position on League tables. Persistent absentees and badly behaved children are told to stay away on Inspection days. The worst kids are sent to Pupil Referral Units, and then brought back to school after a short break, but on their terms. My niece teaches Maths at secondary school, and I find some of the things that happen at her school unbelievable. Harry is quite right when she says that the most badly behaved get rewards, whilst the 'good' kids get nothing. There are some wonderful teachers, who go the extra mile for their hard working pupils, and who would love to be able to deal with the troublemakers as they would like, but their hands are tied.Being a good teacher these days is very difficult, and IMO it is unfair to denigrate them when most are doing their best against all the odds. They really shouldn't be expected to deal with kids whose parents couldn't be bothered to bring them up as decent human beings.