WE have no desire to see a return to the days of corporal punishment in schools when teachers got away with the physical abuse of children.

We do, however, believe that the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Too often, teachers are afraid to impose order in classrooms for fear of crossing a vague disciplinary line themselves. Vagueness leads to inconsistency and a lack of confidence, which is what we have in too many schools.

Yesterday's announcement that teachers are to be given stronger legal rights to use reasonable force to restrain pupils and punish badly behaved youngsters is therefore to be welcomed.

When it comes to the minority of unruly youngsters, teachers need clearer guidance on how far they can go to maintain control and that will, hopefully, be provided by the changes resulting from Sir Alan Steer's report.

But teachers can only do so much. The real key to improving discipline in schools lies - as it has always done - with parents.

It is in the home that standards of behaviour should be set and in schools where they should be reinforced. It is not enough for teachers alone to know how far they can take discipline - parents need a clear understanding too.