Pupils lack realistic aspirations, are too heavily influenced by what they see as the "easy" lives of celebrities, and some have lost the art of conversation because they rarely sit down for a meal with their parents, John Dunford, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told its annual conference in Brighton yesterday.
The problems were worst among working-class families, he said. "For some children, schools have had to take the place of the institutions that used to set the boundaries of acceptable behaviour - that was, fundamentally, the family and the church," Dunford said.
"Never have the values of school been more important in children's lives. Never has the job of school leaders in articulating those values, day by day, week by week, been so important. For many children, school and its values, its clear boundaries and moral framework, are the only solid bedrock in their lives."
Ministers have put school-home relationships at the heart of their Children's Plan, suggesting schools set up parent councils.
"Schools can't and shouldn't replace the role of parents," Dunford said, adding: "It's perhaps a sad indictment on the present age that we accept the need to help parents to play their part - to rediscover what being a parent means." (more)
