Should children stand up for their teachers when they enter the classroom?

A debate has been sparked about whether children should stand up for their teachers when they enter the classroom.

While some parents believe encouraging pupils to stand when their teacher comes into the room shows respect, others are of the opinion the act is outdated.

The discussion was originally ignited when a parent labelled the practice a “regimented power trip” after it was introduced in her child’s school in Middlesborough.

But the debate was continued on this morning’s ‘Good Morning Britain’ with one head teacher defending the standing of pupils as a great way of encouraging pupils to show respect.

Katharine Birbalsingh argued insisting children stand for their teachers is a traditional ritual which instils respect and enables children to behave in an honourable way.

In contrast, teacher and poet Christian Foley insisted the practice can actually be quite disruptive for pupils and doesn’t believe he should be put on a pedestal simply because he is a teacher.

Though he agrees that discipline and respect are all great values he believes there are other ways to instill them in pupils.

“I agree with encouraging pupils to show respect,” he said. “But I don’t want to be inflammable, person who is robotic and perfect - I’m human as well.”

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Following the GMB discussion the debate continued online with parents split about the educational practice.

Some thought insisting children stand for their teachers was a great way of encouraging them to show respect.

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But others thought the practice was old-fashioned and there were other ways to encourage respect in the school environment.

This isn’t the only school practice that has caused controversy recently.

Last month a school introduced a new policy that will see parents fined one pound for every five minutes they are late picking up their children.

Holy Trinity C of E Primary, in Gravesend, Kent introduced the new rules to try to tackle after-school lateness, and will target those picking up their children just ten minutes late - anytime after 3:40pm.

Last year one school’s decision to ban all drinks other than water from pupil’s packed lunch boxes came under fire from some parents.

The move was reportedly made to facilitate pupils with allergies and to limit the consumption of sugary drinks, but some parents were left unimpressed by the school’s new approach.

Another primary school banned parents from using mobile phones in the playground.

The move was introduced after the school’s headteacher spotted parents were too engrossed in their phones to engage with their children when picking them up from school.

Meanwhile, it was also recently revealed that a primary school in the UK has banned school holidays, allowing parents to take their children out of school for six weeks whenever they want.