Heads’ leader blames parents for problems at school

Parents have been blamed by the leader of the head
teachers’ union for failing their children by not sending
them to school with the right social skills, for using TV and
computer games as a “free babysitter” instead of
ensuring homework is done, for causing obesity by  feeding children
“an atrocious diet” and for condoning truancy and
thereby condemning their children to a life of crime.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of
Head Teachers, delivered the broadside against parents at the
association’s annual conference. He said “It is the
attitude of these families who know all about rights but precious
little about responsibilities that has to change.”

He said school staff were not social workers or surrogate
parents and “should not be expected to waste valuable
teaching time doing the job that should have been done before the
child sets foot in the school”.

His comments were criticised by parents organisations. The
charity Parentline Plus said it was saddened by the remarks which
would “undo much excellent work between many schools and
parents to build trust and work in partnership to the benefit of
children”.