The Secondary Teachers' Union (Sindicat Professors de Secundària) has warned Catalonia's Department of Education that deploying police in schools is not the solution to classroom issues. Instead, the union insists on guaranteeing respect for teachers and their authority.
In a message posted on X, the organisation highlighted that it had never requested such a measure, nor had teachers demanded it. The union's primary concern is that the Department of Education and school management teams should actively support teachers and act as accusers in criminal cases involving aggression or vexation against staff.
The union emphasised that authority in the classroom must reside with the teacher, not the police. According to the Sindicat Professors de Secundària, if the Catalan government resorts to deploying police in schools, which they describe as an "extreme measure", it signifies a recognition that the education system is "hitting rock bottom".
Protecting Teacher Authority
The Sindicat Professors de Secundària underlined the Generalitat's legal obligation to protect teachers from all forms of aggression and vexation. The union expressed regret over "the impunity with which teachers are insulted and attacked" and stressed that Coexistence Rules (Normes de Convivència) must be enforced. They warned that these rules should not be replaced by Restorative Practices (Pràctiques Restauratives), which serve a different function.
The union's proposal consistently advocates for respect towards teachers and their legal protection by institutions. This stance underscores an ongoing debate within Catalonia's education sector regarding the most effective strategies for maintaining order and ensuring a safe learning environment.
