LONDON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- An average of 344 children were suspended from British schools every day during the 2006-2007 school year for acts of violence, officials said.
Conservative members of Parliament obtained the statistics, which show that suspensions rose 4.3 percent over the previous year, The Telegraph reported. They argue that schools need stricter discipline with more power for teachers.
"It is vital that teachers are given control over the classroom so they can deal with bad behavior before it escalates into violence," Michael Gove, the shadow children's secretary, said.
The Conservative program includes barring parents from appealing suspensions and removing the requirement that schools provide home instruction during long suspensions.
Labor Party officials argue that the increase in suspensions is a sign that teachers are taking steps to root out violence.
"Every single one of these suggestions is either in train, already done or unwanted and unneeded by teachers," an Education Department spokesman said.
