Page 42 - Mini-Module 9

The judge said that this was an ordinary domestic operation which it
was within the teacher’s scope of authority, and reasonable for the

child to perform in the circumstances. He said that not only was it good
for a child to be taught to be unselfish and obliging but the opportunity
of running upstairs may often avoid punishment: the wise teacher,
who sees the volatile child become fidgety, may well make the excuse

of an errand for herself as an outlet for the child’s exuberance of spirits
very much to the benefit of the child. Teachers must use their common
sense, and it would be disastrous to hold that they can do nothing but

teach.

Dangerous Situations
It is important that teachers exercise their professionalism in class,
especially when there are potentially dangerous situations. Some cases
highlight the law.

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In Povey v Rydal School (1969) , a PE teacher was held to be negligent
when one of his students was injured when engaged in a particularly
dangerous gymnastics activity (exercising on “rings”). The teacher
moved from one group to another, leaving students to offer support to
the one who was engaged in the activity. The judge ruled that this was

a particularly dangerous activity and so the r should not have left this
group.

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