We are at risk of losing teachers as student behaviour hits new lows.
PPTA President Debbie Te Whaiti is calling on the government to address teachers' concerns around trouble kids.
She says teachers are being assaulted, verbally abused, threatened and intimidated. She says in some schools it's become a health and safety issue and teachers don't want to work in an environment where they're at risk.
Te Whaiti says schools need more funding for things like alternative education, peer mediation and restorative justice programmes.
A former principal agrees there are more troublesome kids in schools these days than in the past.
Former Principal of Auckland's Mt Roskill Grammar, Ken Rapson, says kids are also exhibiting more challenging problems.
He says there are those with identifiable problems, like autism, and others with poor behaviour that is difficult to manage.
Rapson says schools are handling the issues effectively, but need more resources if they are to make any headway. He says if nothing is done it will eventually impact on the people who go teaching and eventually the quality of teaching.
