Denmark’s Minister for Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye (Socialdemocrats), has proposed allowing teachers to physically intervene when students disrupt lessons or behave offensively towards peers and educators. The minister’s initiative responds to increasing concerns over violence and disruptive behavior in Danish schools, as recently highlighted by a report in the Danish newspaper Berlingske.
Growing concern over disruptive student behavior
Over the past two years, more than 1,700 students have been expelled from Danish public schools (folkeskoler) due to violent behavior. Minister Tesfaye believes the root of the problem lies in teachers lacking clear legal grounds to intervene physically in disruptive situations.
“Sometimes things escalate, and teachers currently lack the legal foundation I believe they should have to intervene physically,” Tesfaye said in an interview with DR P1.
He emphasized the need to empower teachers to assert authority clearly, stressing that “discipline should not be considered a dirty word.”
Proposed legal changes for teacher intervention
Under current Danish law, teachers can physically intervene only if a student poses an immediate danger to themselves or others. Minister Tesfaye seeks to amend the law, clarifying two main points:
- Clearer guidelines: The minister aims to explicitly outline scenarios, such as playground fights, where teachers can physically intervene without fear of legal repercussions or job loss.
- Expanded authority: Teachers could legally intervene when students exhibit unruly behavior that severely disrupts lessons—such as repeatedly turning lights on and off, throwing objects, or verbally assaulting peers or teachers.
“If a student spits at a teacher, for instance, it’s currently illegal to physically intervene,” Tesfaye stated. He advocates changing this situation to provide teachers with the necessary legal protection to act decisively.
School leaders see both promise and risks
Kim Stenholm Paulsen, headmaster at Lundehusskolen in Copenhagen, welcomed the idea of clearer legislation but expressed caution about turning physical intervention into a common educational method.
“If we start seeing physical force as a pedagogical tool, I fear we may see an increase in violent incidents,” Paulsen told DR. He highlighted the complex nature of these interventions, stressing that emotions run high for both students and teachers, even when handled professionally.
Paulsen believes it’s essential to maintain clear and consistent guidelines across schools to prevent confusion among teaching staff. However, he also emphasizes that conflict resolution should prioritize de-escalation techniques over physical intervention.
“It’s rare that escalating conflicts helps. Professionals should always attempt to defuse tension,” he added.
Debate and future steps
Minister Tesfaye stressed that any physical intervention by teachers must always remain proportional and justified. The proposal is expected to be discussed further among members of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), education experts, and school representatives to ensure balanced and effective legislation.
“We must tread very carefully when discussing physical intervention involving children,” the Minister concluded, signaling the cautious approach Denmark intends to maintain in addressing classroom discipline.
