‘We aren’t security guards’ – Teachers speak out on classroom bullying

Educators have warned that metal detectors and scanners alone will not make schools safer, following a violent stabbing in Pembroke earlier this week.

They say the real issue is a lack of discipline, respect and systemic support, with some accusing policymakers of being disconnected from what happens inside classrooms.

On Monday, a 14-year-old boy stabbed another student of the same age at St Clare College in Pembroke. He has been charged with attempted murder and is pleading not guilty.

The incident has sparked fresh calls for better school safety, including from parents and a former education minister who want scanners installed at entrances. But teachers say that would be treating the symptoms, not the cause.

‘I have seen students almost lose an eye’

ADPD leader Sandra Gauci, a local councillor in St Paul’s Bay and a teacher with more than 20 years’ experience, said the introduction of scanners would do little to prevent serious incidents.

“Scanners won’t help much,” she said.

“In my 20 plus years of teaching, I have seen students almost lose an eye, pens used as a weapon, and if they want to hit someone, they will.”

Gauci argued that there has been a shift in classroom culture, where students no longer feel accountable and parents are less willing to back up teachers.

“The students think they can get away with murder. They don’t feel accountable for their actions,” she said.

I see mockery of children with disabilities. We went back as a society- Sandra Gauci

She said the relationship between educators and parents had broken down over time.

“Before, parents used to be much more on board with us but now if you raise your concerns they act like it is a personal offence and take it against you,” she said.

To address the problem, Gauci called for tougher consequences aimed at correcting student behaviour, including community-based interventions.

“Current consequences are a joke. We need to see consequences like community work,” Gauci said, adding that both community police and schools could collaborate to tackle repeated behavioural issues.

She said the demands placed on educators had reached unsustainable levels.

“We are left to feel like we are just babysitters, but we aren’t, we are professionals. So much so that when they want, they describe us as professionals, but when we ask for resources or materials, we go back to being made to feel like we are glorified babysitters,” she said.

‘We have too many roles to play’

Luke Fenech, a secondary school ethics teacher, said teachers were increasingly expected to take on responsibilities they were never trained for.

“We are expected to do several roles, and we are not trained. We have too many roles to play; this is a profession, train us for it. We cannot be expected to look through the bags; we can’t be security guards as well,” he said.

Fenech said there was a clear disconnect between policymakers and those working in classrooms.

“We can’t treat education from an ivory tower; you need to be on the ground,” he said.

Fenech said the Pembroke incident came as no surprise.

We can’t treat education from an ivory tower; you need to be on the ground- Luke Fenech

“This was expected to happen,” he said. “On the ground we expect certain things, but those above don’t seem to be as concerned.”

He warned that bullying remains widespread in schools, often unreported, and that teachers lack training in handling cultural differences.

“The educational system is a reflection of society,” he said. “When we analyse the consequences of what leads more students and educators to become victims, they are often linked to wider social issues.

“Race is another issue, and racism is still an issue in schools,” he said.

‘There’s a lot of racist bullying’

Gauci said she has also witnessed an increase in bullying, particularly racist abuse and mockery of children with disabilities.

“There is a lot of racist bullying happening,” she said. “We went back as a society. I see them laughing and deliberately triggering certain autistic students on purpose.”

She said diversity in schools has created a new challenge for teachers without adequate training.

“The school I teach at has over 50 nationalities,” she said.

“I often saw children from two particular countries always fighting. I was unaware of the conflict between the countries, and it took the children to educate me on their history. How am I meant to learn the history and geopolitics of over 50 countries while trying to teach my subject?”

She also noted that students from more conservative cultures sometimes refused to respect female teachers.

Union urges action on safety and support

The Union of Professional Educators (UPE) said the response to Monday’s attack must be both immediate and long term.

“The response to this tragedy must be serious, comprehensive, and sustainable,” the union said.

“It requires a dual commitment to immediate, tangible security upgrades and a long-term investment in the mental and emotional well-being of our entire school community.”

The UPE first called for physical screening in 2023, after a 12-year-old girl tried to chase a pupil with a butter knife at Naxxar Middle School.

“While this is a necessary physical security measure, it cannot be a standalone solution,” a spokesperson said.

Teachers cannot be expected to act as frontline counsellors and crisis responders without proper backing- Union of Professional Educators

They called for more psycho-social support through better staffing of counsellors, psychologists and social workers.

“Teachers cannot be expected to act as frontline counsellors and crisis responders without proper backing,” the union said.

“They require better support systems, clear protocols, and training to manage complex classroom dynamics.”

They also called for stronger policies on aggression and practical but non-invasive security measures like random bag checks and controlled building access.

“Our vision for safer schools is built on a foundation of support, respect, and adequate resources, not solely on surveillance.”