INCREASING numbers of students are being withdrawn temporarily from school to go on foreign holiday, work part time or study at home, the ASTI conference was told.
Ms Carmel Murphy, Cork South, said the problem of school non attendance was by no means confined to disadvantaged areas. There was growing concern among teachers in all schools about the level of attendance of pupils and the role of parents in this area.
Mr Philip Campion, Fingal, criticised new guidelines for professional behaviour issued by the ASTI. Designed to protect teachers against abuse allegations from students, they recommend that teachers maintain an "arm's length professionalism" with regard to their pupils.
However, Mr Campion said the guidelines created "an atmosphere of mistrust".
But Ms Niamh Walker, Dublin South, praised the guidelines which, she said, should be brought to the attention of every secondary teacher in the country.
Mr John Hurley defeated three other candidates to be elected vice president of the union for the coming year.