The BIG ?

Shaun Webster
Change self advocacy group

As a parent myself, I say yes. Too many kids are out of
control, there is too much backchat and bullying. If you give them
warnings and they don’t work, you’ve got no choice but to expel
them. If you let them off too easily, people will just think that
they can get away with it. A red card system would be a good idea.

Kierra Box
Young people’s activist

While disruption must be prevented for the benefit of other
students, simply excluding individuals represents a systemic
failure. Out of sight is not out of mind and those marginalised at
a young age will simply face further problems as they grow. Society
requires integration to function. The results of exclusion are
catastrophic.

Angie Lawrence
Single mother

While I have sympathy for pupils who have problems that affect
their behaviour in school, my main concern lies with all the rest
of the pupils whose education and school life suffer as a result.
Also school staff’s time and school funds can easily be consumed by
such problems. How disruptive pupils are educated is a huge
problem.

Len Smith
Gypsy activist

It seems to me, possibly because I’m further removed from the
problem, that disruptive behaviour is as much the fault of the
particular school regime as it is of anything else. Parents get
blamed mostly, and no doubt this is valid to some extent, but
exclusion is not a catch-all answer. Therefore I cannot believe
that zero tolerance is an answer either.