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Teacher who slapped pupil can keep job
A MATHS teacher who slapped a pupil over the head and swore at another has been allowed to keep his job.
Martin Rutter, formerly of Dr Challoner's Grammar School, Amersham, was told by a standards panel his behaviour fell "seriously short" of expected standards but he could continue teaching.
Yesterday's General Teaching Council hearing was told Mr Rutter was given two written warnings in 21 months - and even had anger management training paid by the school.
He stepped down in January 2004 shortly before being called to a disciplinary hearing at the school, where he had worked since 1990.
Mr Rutter admitted three out of four allegations at the Birmingham hearing which also recorded another one in a teachers' report as a "lazy sod"
He was "not a good role" model said Ralph Ullmann, who chaired the hearing.
Mr Rutter "showed a lack of respect for young people" and his actions "had the effect of seriously undermining and demeaning pupils".
The panel found Mr Rutter guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.
Mr Rutter, of Bellingdon Road, Chesham admitted three allegations and denied one - but had all four upheld against him.
On one occasion, he left a pupil "upset and shaken" after slapping him on the head, the hearing was told.
A statement from the unnamed pupil said: "I began to make silly noises which annoyed Mr Rutter.
"He got up and slapped me on the head to shock me into being quiet.
"It was fairly hard but not hard enough to be painful. I don't consider this action to be justifiable."
He was given a written warning by headteacher Dr Mark Felton - but was in trouble again the following spring term over two incidents with a year nine student.
The child, identified as Pupil C, said during a practice SATs exam he accidentally drew a graph in pen in the wrong place and began to cross it out.
Mr Rutter picked up his paper and called his work "f*****g crap" the hearing was told.
He later grabbed a library book from Pupil C, causing it to tear.
Middle-aged Mr Rutter told the panel: "It wasn't a deliberate tear. It was a violent picking up of the book and shaking it."
But he accepted his actions would have "frightened the children".
The same day, he called the same pupil a "lazy sod" in a report book on the student's class.
He was given a final written warning by governors and resigned in 2004. He is now at Windsor Boys' School.
The hearing also heard Mr Rutter tore up a test paper of a year seven pupil he accused of cheating.
Several students interviewed later said Mr Rutter had called the pupil a "pillock" under his breath, though this was not remembered by the pupil or Mr Rutter.
Mr Rutter argued this incident did not amount to unacceptable professional conduct.
Deputy head Stephanie Horrocks, present at the hearing, said: "We would never use a word like that to a student in our school.
"We would never want to call a student anything at all."
He received anger management training paid for by the school but refused further counselling, the panel was told.
Colleagues said the training helped him.
Mrs Horrocks said she believed Mr Rutter's behaviour could have partly down to running extra curricular activities, some at weekends and lunch times.
Mr Rutter was made the subject of a conditional registration order which means reports will be compiled on his conduct every July and December to July 2011.
These reports are to ensure there no further "episodes or incidents of inappropriate behaviour towards or treatment of pupils, including the use of unacceptable language".
5:41pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mario, Bucks on 7:08pm Thu 8 May 08
Bring back the cat-o-nine-tails...
Bring back the cat-o-nine-tails...
Posted by: FH, Amersham on 9:31pm Thu 8 May 08
For pupils or errant teachers?
For pupils or errant teachers?
Posted by: Carlton De Souza, Bowerdean area on 10:12pm Thu 8 May 08
this teacher can not be allowed to carry on , he can not control himself.
this teacher can not be allowed to carry on , he can not control himself.
Posted by: JACK MANNION, KENTON on 11:06pm Thu 8 May 08
Nothing has changed since I was a pupil at Challoner's in the '70s, has it? The kind of behaviour demonstrated by Rutter was seen as good, robust management back then - and was routine. I well remember one pupil having, "You miserable wretched t**d" written on his work. This kind of bullying seemed to affect maths badly - my own maths teacher once called me a "loony". He might care to know that I'm now a qualified accountant. But no thanks to his verbal abuse.
I openly challenge BFP readers to write in and accuse me of being an egalitarian attacking the grammar school system in general -that's been the standard response since the '70s when genuine concerns are raised by pupils about the behaviour of teachers and fellow pupils in these schools. I was there, so my factual accounts count for nothing. I'm just making it up out of egalitarian spite, am I?
Nothing has changed since I was a pupil at Challoner's in the '70s, has it? The kind of behaviour demonstrated by Rutter was seen as good, robust management back then - and was routine. I well remember one pupil having, "You miserable wretched t**d" written on his work. This kind of bullying seemed to affect maths badly - my own maths teacher once called me a "loony". He might care to know that I'm now a qualified accountant. But no thanks to his verbal abuse.
I openly challenge BFP readers to write in and accuse me of being an egalitarian attacking the grammar school system in general -that's been the standard response since the '70s when genuine concerns are raised by pupils about the behaviour of teachers and fellow pupils in these schools. I was there, so my factual accounts count for nothing. I'm just making it up out of egalitarian spite, am I?
Posted by: davejones, Beaconsfield on 11:45pm Thu 8 May 08
Jack - I fully appriciate your comments and the fact they come based on your own personal experience, but i don't see why this kind of behaviour is limited to grammar schools. It could just as easily have happened in any other kind of secondary school.
Unfortunatly a job such as teaching that offers a degree of power over others may attract some people that will misuse this power by means of bullying, the same as you may find in the police force, traffic wardens or middle management. However the vast majority of people in all these professions ate not like this.
Jack - I fully appriciate your comments and the fact they come based on your own personal experience, but i don't see why this kind of behaviour is limited to grammar schools. It could just as easily have happened in any other kind of secondary school.
Unfortunatly a job such as teaching that offers a degree of power over others may attract some people that will misuse this power by means of bullying, the same as you may find in the police force, traffic wardens or middle management. However the vast majority of people in all these professions ate not like this.
Posted by: Tharus Bond, Wycombe on 8:19am Fri 9 May 08
swearing and insulting pupils i think isn't the right way to deal with pupils who are trouble, but detention and suspension doesn't just quite cut the mustard this days.
some pupils have no respect for learning and teachers and deciplining them or showing them the error of their ways doesn't work.
Maybe teachers should be allowed to do something that would be reasonable.
swearing and insulting pupils i think isn't the right way to deal with pupils who are trouble, but detention and suspension doesn't just quite cut the mustard this days.
some pupils have no respect for learning and teachers and deciplining them or showing them the error of their ways doesn't work.
Maybe teachers should be allowed to do something that would be reasonable.
Posted by: Elmo, High Wycombe on 8:34am Fri 9 May 08
If the parents refuse to teach disipline to the children and leave it to the schools, then the teachers need the teeth to do it properly.
If the parents refuse to teach disipline to the children and leave it to the schools, then the teachers need the teeth to do it properly.
Posted by: Marmite, HW on 9:02am Fri 9 May 08
Bring back corporal punishment
Bring back corporal punishment
Posted by: tom, marlow on 11:06am Fri 9 May 08
Hitting people and swearing at them rarely achieves anything useful.
Teachers have to set an example. To me, his behaviour is unacceptable.
Hitting people and swearing at them rarely achieves anything useful.
Teachers have to set an example. To me, his behaviour is unacceptable.
Posted by: LillyMoe, High Wycombe on 12:56pm Fri 9 May 08
What can we do in this silly world we live in, we can not slap childen as we will be accused of beating them... blah blah blah it was much better before, my parents used to slap me and I got the cane at school. Kids these days get away with too much ! Some parents and teachers have to put their foot down, if my kids are ever bad I will want something done about it, its call RESPECT for your elders. Kids need to learn that as most of them dont have any.
What can we do in this silly world we live in, we can not slap childen as we will be accused of beating them... blah blah blah it was much better before, my parents used to slap me and I got the cane at school. Kids these days get away with too much ! Some parents and teachers have to put their foot down, if my kids are ever bad I will want something done about it, its call RESPECT for your elders. Kids need to learn that as most of them dont have any.
Posted by: David St, High Wycombe on 12:58pm Fri 9 May 08
Which school did Corporal Punishment teach at then? He's retired now me think.
Which school did Corporal Punishment teach at then? He's retired now me think.
Posted by: Elmo, High Wycombe on 1:00pm Fri 9 May 08
Corporal Punishment, in the school room, with the board rubber...
Corporal Punishment, in the school room, with the board rubber...
Posted by: FH, Amersham on 3:34pm Fri 9 May 08
Jack, you cite this as an example of typical grammar school abuse, but this teacher left the grammar and was then employed, [bold]despite[/bold] his history, at an [italic]independent[/italic] school.
Jack, you cite this as an example of typical grammar school abuse, but this teacher left the grammar and was then employed,
despite his history, at an
independent school.
Posted by: FH, Amersham on 3:36pm Fri 9 May 08
Sorry, I hit "Post" too soon. My point is that the type of school is not particularly relevant, It's just a case of a bad person in an inappropriate job, and sadly that can and does happen in all sorts of schools -and other institutions too.
Sorry, I hit "Post" too soon. My point is that the type of school is not particularly relevant, It's just a case of a bad person in an inappropriate job, and sadly that can and does happen in all sorts of schools -and other institutions too.
Posted by: Yervie, CSP on 5:04pm Fri 9 May 08
LillyMoe- Why do young people have to respect their elders if they behave like this?! Not really something to respect is it. Obviously when your parents slapped you they slapped out any sort of common sense or general manners!
LillyMoe- Why do young people have to respect their elders if they behave like this?! Not really something to respect is it. Obviously when your parents slapped you they slapped out any sort of common sense or general manners!
Posted by: happy blue, bucks on 5:29pm Fri 9 May 08
I respect the thoughts of the parents comments but have a thought for the teachers who put up with rudeness and disrespect from pupils.Lets bring back some discipline to the classroom the cane never did anybody an harm and "Mummy or Daddy" didn't come up the school complaining we were told "It serves you right" Bring back the parents who respect what the schools are trying to do that is teach discipline which is not taught at home.
I respect the thoughts of the parents comments but have a thought for the teachers who put up with rudeness and disrespect from pupils.Lets bring back some discipline to the classroom the cane never did anybody an harm and "Mummy or Daddy" didn't come up the school complaining we were told "It serves you right" Bring back the parents who respect what the schools are trying to do that is teach discipline which is not taught at home.
Posted by: Ron Schreck on 5:43pm Fri 9 May 08
What, only 2 students?
The first was disrupting class and disrespectful to the teacher. the second student did not follow directions and appears to be doing something (reading?) a library book in class instead of paying attention to the teacher. Actually BFP did their usual crappy job of reporting. Before a person can judge the teacher, they need to know both sides of the story, which BFP did not report. I suppose these kids are pefect angels who have never gotten in to trouble before. So before anybody judges a person, they need to hear the whole story from all sides, not just what BFP wants to report.
What, only 2 students?
The first was disrupting class and disrespectful to the teacher. the second student did not follow directions and appears to be doing something (reading?) a library book in class instead of paying attention to the teacher. Actually BFP did their usual crappy job of reporting. Before a person can judge the teacher, they need to know both sides of the story, which BFP did not report. I suppose these kids are pefect angels who have never gotten in to trouble before. So before anybody judges a person, they need to hear the whole story from all sides, not just what BFP wants to report.
Posted by: rutter, Chesham on 6:59am Tue 13 May 08
I don't want to justify what I did, but would like to point out to my detractors what my current headmaster wrote to the GTC:
22nd April 2008
Testimonial on behalf of M.R. Rutter
I am delighted to write openly on behalf of ‘Rikki’ Rutter who is a member of my teaching staff and has been so for the past four years, since his move from Dr. Challoner’s School, Amersham.
Rikki’s trade is that he is a very good Mathematics teacher indeed. Teaching Mathematics to boys represents its challenges in WBS and indeed nationally. Boys need cajoling to learn and stimulated in their teaching. You have to establish a strong rapport with young people to win their respect and develop a careful understanding of the material. If you relate your teaching of Mathematics to the real world with boys particularly, there is then a better understanding and a greater willingness to want to succeed. Rikki is capable of all this and more. He has a very good Mathematics know-how and he is able to get this across. He has an instinctive understanding of his students when they are struggling to appreciate some of the more difficult Mathematics concepts. He knows when to pause and when to produce greater challenge. Because of his knowledge of his students he can relate to them, question about their sporting or artistic interests, thereby overcoming difficulties some teachers experience because they are not able to manage their classrooms. Rikki has no such difficulty. His classroom management is excellent. He is firm but always fair. As a teacher I rate him highly. Because of this I have promoted him to a senior pastoral role, as House Leader, in September 2007. He has the responsibility for the learning of 120 students across the age and ability range. He has the responsibility of their general progress. In our school this is about their development socially and as all-round students. It is a major responsibility. He is accountable to students and parents and works directly with Key Stage Coordinators and my Deputy Headmaster. In this role he is an example to others. He gives freely of his time and is prepared to listen. He will engineer circumstances to ensure he knows those in his charge and is well placed to advise on progress.
If WBS has a real strength it is in its ethos, and this can be seen in commitment to extra-curricular activity. In this regard also Rikki is outstanding. He leads the Duke of Edinburgh Award and is always in support. The Head Boys’ Dinner, for example, was inspired by him. The sight of him leading a team of ‘wannabee’ chefs, rolling up his sleeves cooking and washing up says it all. Guess who it is then who rolls down the sleeves to toast Her Majesty!
All in all you will glean from my comments that I rate ‘Rikki’ Rutter of the ‘top drawer’. The Windsor Boys’ School is all the richer for the commitment Rikki gives. I should be pleased to be contacted further on Rikki’s behalf.
Jeffrey Dawkins
HEADMASTER & NATIONAL LEADER OF EDUCATION
I don't want to justify what I did, but would like to point out to my detractors what my current headmaster wrote to the GTC:
22nd April 2008
Testimonial on behalf of M.R. Rutter
I am delighted to write openly on behalf of ‘Rikki’ Rutter who is a member of my teaching staff and has been so for the past four years, since his move from Dr. Challoner’s School, Amersham.
Rikki’s trade is that he is a very good Mathematics teacher indeed. Teaching Mathematics to boys represents its challenges in WBS and indeed nationally. Boys need cajoling to learn and stimulated in their teaching. You have to establish a strong rapport with young people to win their respect and develop a careful understanding of the material. If you relate your teaching of Mathematics to the real world with boys particularly, there is then a better understanding and a greater willingness to want to succeed. Rikki is capable of all this and more. He has a very good Mathematics know-how and he is able to get this across. He has an instinctive understanding of his students when they are struggling to appreciate some of the more difficult Mathematics concepts. He knows when to pause and when to produce greater challenge. Because of his knowledge of his students he can relate to them, question about their sporting or artistic interests, thereby overcoming difficulties some teachers experience because they are not able to manage their classrooms. Rikki has no such difficulty. His classroom management is excellent. He is firm but always fair. As a teacher I rate him highly. Because of this I have promoted him to a senior pastoral role, as House Leader, in September 2007. He has the responsibility for the learning of 120 students across the age and ability range. He has the responsibility of their general progress. In our school this is about their development socially and as all-round students. It is a major responsibility. He is accountable to students and parents and works directly with Key Stage Coordinators and my Deputy Headmaster. In this role he is an example to others. He gives freely of his time and is prepared to listen. He will engineer circumstances to ensure he knows those in his charge and is well placed to advise on progress.
If WBS has a real strength it is in its ethos, and this can be seen in commitment to extra-curricular activity. In this regard also Rikki is outstanding. He leads the Duke of Edinburgh Award and is always in support. The Head Boys’ Dinner, for example, was inspired by him. The sight of him leading a team of ‘wannabee’ chefs, rolling up his sleeves cooking and washing up says it all. Guess who it is then who rolls down the sleeves to toast Her Majesty!
All in all you will glean from my comments that I rate ‘Rikki’ Rutter of the ‘top drawer’. The Windsor Boys’ School is all the richer for the commitment Rikki gives. I should be pleased to be contacted further on Rikki’s behalf.
Jeffrey Dawkins
HEADMASTER & NATIONAL LEADER OF EDUCATION
Posted by: LillyMoe, High Wycombe on 1:44pm Tue 13 May 08
[quote][bold]Yervie[/bold] wrote:
LillyMoe- Why do young people have to respect their elders if they behave like this?! Not really something to respect is it. Obviously when your parents slapped you they slapped out any sort of common sense or general manners![/quote] I certainly have more manners than most children I have ever come across in the street most are foul mouthed. It says above that the child started making silly noises... well thats not respect when the teacher is trying to do his job is it ??!
Yervie wrote:
LillyMoe- Why do young people have to respect their elders if they behave like this?! Not really something to respect is it. Obviously when your parents slapped you they slapped out any sort of common sense or general manners!
I certainly have more manners than most children I have ever come across in the street most are foul mouthed. It says above that the child started making silly noises... well thats not respect when the teacher is trying to do his job is it ??!
Posted by: FH, Amersham on 1:15pm Wed 14 May 08
[quote]most children I have ever come across in the street most are foul mouthed[/quote]
YOu must be walking the wrong streets. Certainly there are some, but in my experience they're just a small minority.
most children I have ever come across in the street most are foul mouthed
YOu must be walking the wrong streets. Certainly there are some, but in my experience they're just a small minority.
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