Domestic violence

25 November 2009

Commenting on the government's plans to introduce compulsory lessons in schools on the unacceptability of domestic violence on women and young girls, Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;
"Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and I welcome the Government’s intention to include education against domestic violence in the National Curriculum.

"Schools can play a vital part in altering the attitudes which can lead to domestic violence both in later life and by helping the child who currently has to live with it. They can also provide help and support to teachers and other employees who are themselves subjected to violence in the home.

"Domestic violence is an invisible crime but it has devastating and long term effects on the physical and mental health of those subjected to it. The NUT’s guidance on domestic violence (Silence is Not Always Golden), published in 2005 and launched in Parliament, made it clear that schools should seek to teach about how:

* unequal power relationships between partners can lead to violence, particularly against teenage girls;

* to challenge attitudes which can lead to violent behaviour;

* to tell pupils about the reasons why women are forced to stay with violent partners, such as financial insecurity, threats against their children or depression;

* communication and listening is vital to make relationships work effectively;

* domestic violence can lead to legal consequences, since it is against the law; and,

* to provide information from a range of organisations and agencies that can help victims of domestic violence.

"Many teachers will need professional development when domestic violence is introduced in the curriculum. It is also vital that teachers have the time and space to teach about this vital area. The government intends to include personal, social, health and finance education as a compulsory subject in the National Curriculum. It has to give schools a far greater flexibility in how they manage and teach the curriculum, if this area is not to be a victim of an already crowded time table."

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