Obdurate, I can say with 100% certainty, that some of the primary schools that I have taught at around Brisbane, have a disruptive component much in excess of 5%. Admittedly I was doing 'supply' work at the time, and kids do tend to be more disruptive for supply teachers, but what I saw was simply disturbing.
In many schools, that percentage across all classrooms would be more like 20%.....and that is not an exaggeration. Schools around Logan, Ipswich etc. Unbelievable. How some of kids manage to learn is almost beyond comprehension.
It seems to be a problem that is insurmountable.
Schools in these areas are, typically, blamed for every shortcoming that exists at the child's home, and they try to cater for those. Virtually impossible, but I guess it is our duty as a society to help those kids.
It is a huge problem, and may well be getting worse.
In some ways, I don't like to name Logan and Ipswich, but on this occasion, I choose to be simply representative of my experiences. And it needs to be said.
As someone mentioned here before, for all sorts of reasons, it seems to be that principals, staff, and the department, all want to hide these truths.
