Children have no manners: principals' group

Parents need to teach their children manners instead of expecting schools to do it, the head of WA's main principals' group says.

On the eve of the new school year, WA Primary Principals' Association president Stephen Breen said yesterday that principals were coming under increasing pressure from angry parents, heavier workloads and more scrutiny from the Education Department.

"A lot of people probably lack the understanding of parenting," he said.

"It's about boundaries for kids and common manners and discipline processes at home.

"When those little ones come to school, they haven't got the prerequisites, not only in literacy and numeracy, but in social development."

Mr Breen said children needed and enjoyed having boundaries.

"For example, when to go to bed (and) not interrupting," he said.

"Saying excuse me, thank you - the basic manners that we expect.

"It is not our role to teach manners."

A growing proportion of parents simply did not believe the teacher or a school when told their child had misbehaved and many parents became aggressive.

"We have a number of prohibition orders out on parents regarding their treatment of school leaders and teachers," he said.

Mr Breen said a lack of formal training and support from the Education Department for principals was leading to fewer people wanting the job. "The pressures that are on schools now, people are saying, 'Is it worth it'," he said.

For example, he said a plum job at a high-profile city primary school advertised recently had attracted just three applicants.

Education Department director-general Sharyn O'Neill said it was "complete nonsense" to suggest primary school principals did not have access to professional training, with over 30 programs available to them.

"School leaders are dealing with more complex social issues, but in my experience our principals have the skills in abundance to deal with those issues," she said.

"Many of these skills . . . are not learnt on a course but are common sense principles that our school leaders display every day."

Education Minister Liz Constable said there was no hard evidence to show there had been an increase in bad-mannered children and parents.

But people were selected to become principals because of their success as teachers and their experience and ability in dealing with difficult children and parents.

"I have every confidence that principals in public schools are well equipped to deal with the human, and often difficult, issues children bring to school with them," she said.

WA Council of State School Organisations president Kylie Catto said parents should take responsibility for teaching basic morality, behaviour and manners to their children.

• Alston *