|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
|
New teacher guidelines on physical
contact with children call for common sense to ensure adult-child touching is
not misconstrued as abuse. The New Zealand Educational
Institute launched the more relaxed guidelines yesterday. They replace an old code of
practice that was issued in the 1990s during heightened fears of child abuse
following the Christchurch's Civic Creche scandal. The guidelines advised teachers
"to use common sense in all areas of their interaction with children and
be mindful of situations that may expose themselves to unnecessary risk"
. Physical contact like cuddling distressed children or changing nappies was
"acceptable when carried out in a professional and responsible manner
that is age appropriate" . The release comes a day after the
Early Childhood Council said children were being "quarantined" from
men because of sexist recruitment policies linked to "paedophile
hysteria" of the 1990s. NZEI president Irene Cooper said
the new guidelines reflected the social environment that schools and
preschool centres now operated in. Early childhood teacher Hayley
Whitaker welcomed the guidelines because quality early childhood education
involved physical contact. |
