Tate teens no joke in class

April 03, 2007

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Catherine Tate's book

TV comedy characters of anti-social teenagers are fuelling disruptive behaviour among pupils, teachers say.

Two-thirds of teenagers are taking their cue from the Catherine Tate Show and Little Britain and repeating catchphrases such as 'Am I bovvered?' and 'Whatev-ah!' when staff try to discipline them, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers claimed.

One teacher in the survey of 400 ATL members said: "Their behaviour directly reflects what they see on television.

"For example, when on the Teachers programme a member of staff was slapped, we had two examples of this in our school the next week.

"We had never had this before in 30 years."

A lack of parental supervision meant too many pupils were staying up late and watching television beyond the 9pm watershed, the union said.

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SB, Audenshaw (03/04/2007 at 10:04)

So these stereotypes didn't exist before the tv characters themselves? Back to school thickos!

David,North Manchester (03/04/2007 at 11:47)

Catherine Tate based her character on what she observed in society and took the mickey,any fool can see this.

Gemma-Louise, Gee Cross (03/04/2007 at 12:12)

I just left school in June 2006 and there were plenty of badly behaved children. The children behaved badly at primary schcool so obviously this sort of behaviour was present before Little Britain and Catherine Tate.

Daniel (03/04/2007 at 12:21)

Oh My God! Woteva! Im sorry but its not the TV fueling this behaviour it the Teacher's failing the kid's. Their just trying to shift the blame! Its Easier!

Feelin Blue, Alderley Edge (03/04/2007 at 12:24)

Ever heard of social stereotypes MEN??? These comedians didn't just create these characters.......they really do exist!!!

J Sheldon (03/04/2007 at 16:11)

Gemma-Louise has observed and commented on the real position.

Fuelling disruptive behaviour is the line of this report. The actual comedy element is not being questioned. More provision has been announced to educate disruptive children away from the main stream. Hopefully this will happen.

I am sure that there are many children being denied chances in life by others who would not attend school, unless it was to disrupt.

karma2007, rochdale,greater manchester (03/04/2007 at 17:30)

Even whaen i left school long ago there were allways the cheeky kids,the only thing now unlike when i was at school is they get away with it,in my day id be pulled by the sideburn in total pain by a burley teacher,or submitted by an acid tonged science mistress whod reduce you to tears in front of the class and the kids of today just dont care,put miss stowell in the class they wouldnt know what had hit them,and thats no joke,the so called school hard lads would run a mile rather than have stowell on their case or don preston pulling you by your burning side burns to the heads office and he played rugby for club and country.

Jo (03/04/2007 at 17:34)

Dennis The Menace, Minnie the Minx and the Bash Street Kids were aiming catapults at teachers, playing practical jokes and terrorising their swottier class mates in the Beano in the 1930s (and still are, I believe). Were they a bad influence on school kids too, then?!

T. J. (03/04/2007 at 18:59)

Teachers have their hands tied behind their backs when it comes to discipline, especially in Primary schools. Teachers are responsible for teaching the curriculum. Children who have not been taught to behave AT HOME at pre-school age, should receive supplementary education, ALONGSIDE their parents, to help them understand that they are responsible for their own behaviour. Only when they are able to control their behaviour enough to participate in school lessons should they be allowed back into the classroom. It is not an unreasonable request for children to know right from wrong at a basic level before they even start school. If Teachers were meant to educate our children in manners, behaviour, respect and common sense, the role of the parent would be obsolete. It is time parents accepted some responsibility for the actions of their children in school.

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