A teaching union last night demanded compulsory parenting classes for everyone to combat rising levels of ill-discipline in schools.
The call came in the wake of findings by education watchdog Ofsted that showed drug-taking, carrying weapons, and gang culture were rife among pupils.
Based on visits to 78 schools in eight local education authorities, including Sandwell and Shropshire, the report found bad behaviour to be a problem in as many as half of all schools.
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Nigel Baker, deputy general secretary of the Birmingham NUT branch, said: "The single biggest factor in children's behaviour and self-esteem is parents.
"We need to provide really good parenting classes. At secondary school we should start talking about what it means to be a parent."
Read the full story in today's Birmingham Post
