What has happened to teachers' authority?

By Rod Pitcher
Community contribution / November 26, 2015

Do you remember the ‘old’ days, when children at school could be punished for misdemeanours? Admittedly, some of it was overdone and perhaps a little severe, but, being able to discipline students, meant that the teacher could control the class.

Teachers can no longer hand out punishment of any type. No more slap on the wrist. No more writing a ...

Assistant Principal Special Education - General - Kanwal Public School

Kanwal Public School Kanwal

School Management / Apr 29, 2026

Teacher Learning and Support - Chifley College Senior Campus

NSW Department of Education Sydney NSW

Teaching - Secondary / Apr 29, 2026

Teacher Science - Gunnedah High School ($20K Recruitment Bonus + $5-8K Relocation Support Payment)

Gunnedah High School Gunnedah

Teaching - Secondary / Apr 29, 2026

By Rod Pitcher

Community

Rod lives in Waramanga, a south-western suburb of Canberra, Australia’s capital, with a black cat named Dog to keep him company. He has six university degrees, including a PhD in Education, and has a number of academic publications including five ebooks. He spends a lot of his time reading all sorts of things about all sorts of topics.

Latest comments

For some Autistic kids, it is their only form of being in contact with others.

— Peter Langdale on A Balanced Approach To Social Media Might Not Be So Bad: New Research

Top events

Opinion / Reclaiming the human purpose of your school

Schools aren’t struggling from lack of effort, but lack of alignment. As programs and pressures stack up, many have drifted into busy-ness without real impact. This article argues the issue is design, not people, and calls leaders to refocus on th...

School news / Iran conflict effects: call to target girls’ funding in gender equality push

It may be on the other side of the globe, but the Federal Government is being warned the Middle East crisis has ramped the need for direct aid funding for adolescent girls at risk of cascading crises across the Asia Pacific.

School news / Presenters are unlawfully posting student photos to boost their business: expert

A dangerously lax approach to student photo permissions by some schools is seeing external presenters unlawfully posting photos of children to help promote their business online, and the risks are huge, Australia’s leading cybersafety expert has w...

School news / Tasmania’s teachers strike hard earned pay deal after ‘generational’ strike

Tasmania’s public teachers have voted to accept a "fair and affordable" new pay deal after a bitter industrial dispute with the Rockliff Government.

School news / Young e-bike riders have never been properly taught how to ride them: new platform

A 15-year-old boy died after being thrown from an e-bike in Melbourne’s north-east last week, the latest casualty in what has become a major national issue.

Opinion / Dismantling bizarre logic: Explicit teaching is NOT classroom coercion

For someone who doesn’t particularly care for conflict, I have a real soft spot for dismantling arguments that entrench inequity, including, but not limited to, those that misrepresent evidence-informed practice.

School news / ‘We haven’t been inclusive enough (on gender equality) it’s about a better future for all’: ex-PM

A concerted, organised and strategic pushback by the “manosphere” against gender equality can’t be swept under the rug, Australia’s only female prime minister says.

Opinion / Australia has access to 20,000 migrant teachers, but is not using them. Why not?

School news / A balanced approach to social media might not be so bad: new research

The effectiveness of banned social media sites for Australian under 16s remains hotly debated, but while most agree protecting young people from too much screen time is a priority, a major new study has revealed that a balanced approach to social ...

School news / Indigenous-led cultural learning in schools is vital - but no govt is listening

Schools far too often rely on symbolic gestures rather than meaningful action to support Aboriginal students, and there is an urgent need for governments to properly resource Indigenous-led cultural learning, a five-year WA research project has co...

What has happened to teachers' authority?

Comments

EducationID

Our services

Ad centre