Call to ‘Retrain ex-Troops’ as Teachers to Improve School Discipline

Ex-servicemen and women should be retrained as teachers to bring military style discipline to tough inner city schools, a think tank has said.

The government is being urged to adopt a US-style programme returning former soldiers, sailors and airmen to school.

The Centre for Policy Studies says ex-soldiers could have a profound effect on discipline and learning.

The Conservatives are backing the idea, saying children need order and role models for self-discipline.

A report by think tanks says the fact that ex-soldiers had a macho image could help engender respect - particularly among boys.

The Troops to Teachers (T3) programme in the US retrains soldiers with a minimum of 10 years' experience, and a degree, as fully certificated teachers.

Those with lower qualifications are retrained as vocational teachers.

Some 16,000 service personnel have qualified as teachers since T3 was set up in the US in 1994.

The report said the programme had been an "outstanding success", with some 88% remaining in the profession three years after they qualified.

This compared to the usual retention rate for teachers in the US of 50% after five years.

The report suggested ex-servicemen could have a particularly strong effect on discipline and learning.

"This is not merely because ex-servicemen are sure of their own moral authority.

"They are not intimidated by adrenaline-fuelled adolescents: they have, unlike most teachers, been there before," it added.

It also argued that the perception that these teachers had been in a "macho profession" would be well-received by inner city children.

"Whether we like it or not, children from more deprived neighbourhoods often respond to raw physical power," it added.

Chief of Defence Staff Lord Guthrie said knife crime, drugs and violence were reported daily in the inner cities.

He said the T3 programme was a "possible answer" that had been shown to work in the US.

"This will not, of course, solve all the problems of the inner city. But it will help," he said.

"It will provide youths with role models who understand discipline and self-restraint at the time in their lives when they need it most. And it will be a terrific boost for our Armed Services."

The charity Skill Force is already running a similar programme with 35 teams across 200 schools in England, Scotland and Wales and the report says it could be expanded with government help.

Shadow Children's Secretary Michael Gove said helping soldiers retrain as teachers would be great for our schools.

"Many British schools need a change of culture because they face real problems with violence and bad behaviour.

"Children, particularly in the worst schools, desperately need order and role models for self-discipline."

A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said: "We know that professionals with industry experience can make really inspirational teachers and we are always looking to recruit teachers who have skills in other fields."

The Ministry of Defence said it was already working with the Department for Children, Schools and Families on a scheme to encourage more ex-military personnel to consider secondary-level teaching.

A spokesman said help and advice on pursuing a career in education formed part of the resettlement package for service leavers.

With thanks to BBC News: bbc.co.uk/news for this news item.