The following figures for violent incidents against teachers in Dundee Schools have been supplied by Dundee City Council in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Courier:2009 - 276
2008 - 245
2007 - 345
2006 - 353
The figures show that there has not been a dramatic change in 2009 compared with 2008. Right now it's too early to say whether the increase of 31 incidents is the beginning of an upward trend or a blip on an otherwise downward trend from 2006. That these incidents have been managed over a four year period without resorting to the permanent exclusion of any pupils from our schools is, I hope, positive news. Were a more detailed breakdown of these statistics available, it would be possible to distinguish between verbal and physical acts of violence. In either case of course I don't condone any violent incidents against our teachers. If this upward trend were continued in the future I should be concerned.
