The Press Association
March 18, 2008
The demise of the traditional family threatens the education of a generation of children, teachers have warned.
Increasing numbers of pupils from broken homes are turning up to school unable to concentrate because of the "emotional turmoil" they suffer when their parents split up, they said.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers called on ministers to recognise the extent of the damage done to children's education by the lack of a stable home life.
Delegates at the union's annual conference in Torquay backed a resolution proposed by Phil Whalley, who warned that nearly half of children were now born to unmarried parents.
"Evidence from across 16 countries in Europe and America shows that co-habiting but non-married parents are twice as likely to separate as married couples," said Mr Whalley, from Hardenhuish School, Chippenham.
"We all know from professional experience the extent to which chaotic home lives and family breakdowns are damaging the educational prospects of children in this country.
"No matter how brilliant the lesson, or how much has been spent on rebuilding the school, if a child comes in angry and in emotional turmoil because of their family life they will not learn."
Research around the world has shown that lack of stability at home is a key reason why pupils fail at school, Mr Whalley said.
"This means that we have a significant problem in Britain because we already have worrying levels of social dysfunction and family breakdown and the situation is getting worse," he said.
"The great sadness is that the consequences of an unstable family background are felt long into adult life."
March 18, 2008
The demise of the traditional family threatens the education of a generation of children, teachers have warned.
Increasing numbers of pupils from broken homes are turning up to school unable to concentrate because of the "emotional turmoil" they suffer when their parents split up, they said.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers called on ministers to recognise the extent of the damage done to children's education by the lack of a stable home life.
Delegates at the union's annual conference in Torquay backed a resolution proposed by Phil Whalley, who warned that nearly half of children were now born to unmarried parents.
"Evidence from across 16 countries in Europe and America shows that co-habiting but non-married parents are twice as likely to separate as married couples," said Mr Whalley, from Hardenhuish School, Chippenham.
"We all know from professional experience the extent to which chaotic home lives and family breakdowns are damaging the educational prospects of children in this country.
"No matter how brilliant the lesson, or how much has been spent on rebuilding the school, if a child comes in angry and in emotional turmoil because of their family life they will not learn."
Research around the world has shown that lack of stability at home is a key reason why pupils fail at school, Mr Whalley said.
"This means that we have a significant problem in Britain because we already have worrying levels of social dysfunction and family breakdown and the situation is getting worse," he said.
"The great sadness is that the consequences of an unstable family background are felt long into adult life."