Unruly children to be punished with 'innovative' foot massages

[Nostalgia]

Badly behaved schoolchildren are set to face alternative punishment in the form of foot and head messages as a means of controlling bad behaviour.

A London-run company called Bud-Umbrella will work in 60 primary and 14 secondary schools, offering the alternative therapy to improve unruly children's behaviour.

Lambeth Council in south London is to reportedly spend £90,000 next year sending the reflexologists into the schools - despite the fact there is little evidence such treatment improves behaviour.

The company's website says reflexology may be beneficial in a number of ways.

It says: "It can calm aggressive feelings, improve listening skills, concentration and focus. It can relieve anxiety and stress, and improve confidence and self esteem."

Lambeth Labour councillor Paul McGlone said: "It's incredibly important that we address young people's behavioural problems and we make no apologies for using different and innovative methods but this obviously won't replace more traditional ways of dealing with anti-social behaviour.

"We need to deal with the root causes of young people's behavioural problems and nip them in the bud - prevention is better than cure."

The move has attracted criticism however.

Tory MP John Penrose dismissed the alternative therapy, saying: "Experienced teachers have a range of ways of dealing with badly behaved pupils and stroking their feet is not one of them."

Mark Wallace, from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "How on earth is the education system going to succeed if there are luxuries given out for naughty children and nothing at all given to those who work hard and do well?

"With everyone struggling in the financial crisis, this is crazy money being paid out on a crazy scheme."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...-massages.html

[ZingPao]

I would be bad all the time.

[Regina]

Does this apply to 'unruly' teachers too? I wouldn't mind a free foot and head massage

In all seriousness, I've heard this all before. Been many groups offering similar 'alternative' methods to manage unruly behaviour. I'm sure this won't be the last.

[ZingPao]

Just my opinion; things change. Back when I was in school there were no such things as ADD, ADHD or anything like that. There were boys and when they were bad they got their read end swatted and that was the end of that. Now children cannot be disciplined unless you want to run the risk of being charged with abuse, so we drug them before they even develop. I wonder what kind of drug induced creatures we are creating?

[Regina]

I totally agree Zing. I've seen a lot of changes since beginning my career. Rather than saying that a child is 'naughty'....which doesn't need to be seen as a totally negative thing, others are happier to place a label (or labels) on a child and give them some form of 'medication' to 'cure the problem'.

I do believe that children (as well as adults) can have ADHD, but it isn't as widespread as diagnoses show. I know many teachers who do not like children being on medication such as ritalin but theres not a lot we can do about that sadly.

[ZingPao]

Ritalin is one of the most popular drugs in America right now, especially on college campuses. I'm sure the drug makers and doctors know mommy and daddy will be selling it on the street for some extra dough, but that is okay as long as drug makers and doctors get their cut.

As I often say everything in America is backward and twisted. Disciplining children should not be considered abuse. Drugging children while they are developing is abuse, but more money is made that way, so it's okay. It also helps the police state by giving them a new crime to police when parents try to discipline children.