Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sometimes you can find one event reported in all the daily papers, and then it
is interesting to compare reports. On the next few pages you will find six
reports of something that happened in a school in Bideford in Devon.
You can decide for yourself whether any of the reports sound exaggerated!
BORED
According to the police and education authorities, between 60 and 80 boys and girls took
part in the disturbance.
But some pupils and people living nearby put the figure at up to 300.
One youngster said: "We got bored because the classrooms were locked and there were no
activities."
The trouble was brought under control in 35 minutes and normal afternoon classes
resumed. Education chiefs ordered an inquiry.
Headmaster John Dare said that only 12 children caused damage and they would be dealt
with "very severely."
(Daily Express)
School Mob
Runs Riot
HUNDREDS of children rampaged through a school yesterday as their teachers joined in a
lunchtime strike over a pay claim.
At another school six boys were suspended after a mob of children smashed windows and
threatened the headmaster.
Trouble flared across the country as teachers working for thirty education authorities refused to
supervise children at lunchtime.
The worst violence was at Bideford School in Devon where a gang estimated at up to 300
strong stormed through the school smashing windows.
It took eight policemen to help headmaster John Dare restore order after he had tried in vain to
supervise 18,00 pupils single-handed.
Last night Mr. Dare said there were about a dozen ringleaders. Those who could be identified
would be " dealt with severely."
(Daily Mirror)
(Daily Mail)
Hammers
As the afternoon lessons ended the youngsters said they were protesting about being confined to one
playground.
"We were bored and had nothing to do," they said. "We will continue our action until the teachers dispute
is over.
"We brought screwdrivers and hammers to school and stole knives from the canteen."
(The Star)
SCHOOLKIDS PUPILS GO ON
RUN RIOT RAMPAGE
OVER LUNCH By COLIN RANDALL
CHILDREN ran riot through a town yesterday POLICE were called to a comprehensive school
after being locked out of their school by work- in Devon yesterday to quell a disturbance
to-rule teachers. involving at least 60 pupils.
About 300 pupils roamed the streets smashing Officers went to the 1700-pupil mixed school
windows and terrifying families. in Bideford after nearby residents reported a
Police were called to quell the lunchtime "developing riot."
rumpus - the second day running there had benn The trouble, described by Devon County
trouble at the 1780-pupil Bideford Council as "a disturbance rather than a riot,"
Comprehensive School in Devon. occurred at lunchtime when only Mr John Dare,
Headmaster John Dare said later his staff were the headmaster, and two members of staff were
working to rule in support of the pay claim by available to supervise pupils because of the
the National Union of Teachers. teachers' pay dispute. Several windows were
Teachers have banned voluntary supervision smashed by children throwing bottles and
and there were only three on duty to control stones.
pupils during breaks. Police restored order after about 35 minutes
and normal lessons were held in the afternoon.
Angry
Report called for
Mr Dare - who said he was "saddened" by the
incident - will be making a full report to the Mr Dare estimated last night that only 50
Devon Education Authority. pupils were directly involved. He thought that
A spokesman for the authority said: "We have no more than a dozen children were responsible
yet to establish the extent of the damage for causing damage.
caused." Mr Joslyn Owen, Devon's Director of
Education, has called for a full report on the
disturbance.
(The Sun) Bideford school is divided into two
complexes. Yesterday's disturbance seems to
have stemmed from anger and boredom from
children excluded from one part of the building.
(Daily Telegraph)
Answer the questions below in your English book
they agree?
c. Four newspapers say that only windows were broken. What else
reports?
What idea does mob give? What idea does gang give? Why didn't
really terrified?