The lack of respect for authority and discipline of teachers on the part of the learners is a factor contributing to low morale and sense of neglected status to teachers. These factors prevent true realisation of the idealism with which educators initially entered the profession, as they are faced with the realities in schools. The need for security and geborgenheit lay the foundation for security in the workplace of educators. The need for physical safety is described in this dissertation on the basis of contextual and theoretical frameworks, to a better understanding of teachers' insecurities. The need to experience geborgenheit appeals to the discipline of Education Law, which focuses inter alia on psychological security through an analysis of legal sources. It contributes to achieve the overall objective of this study, namely to determine the perceptions of educators regarding the impact of student misconduct on their security. Several factors, namely school-related factors, labour law factors as well as society related factors that learners come into contact with every day, contributes to misconduct by some learners. It therefore compels all stakeholders in education to become involved in the education of the students and not to perceive education as a "one-man job". From an employment perspective, the promotion of a safe environment, where learners and educators experience geborgenheit, a prerequisite for their physical and psychological security. This will contribute to the holistic performance of the educational task by the teacher for the benefit of the learners. / MEd (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The lack of respect for authority and discipline of teachers on the part of the learners is a factor contributing to low morale and sense of neglected status to teachers. These factors prevent true realisation of the idealism with which educators initially entered the profession, as they are faced with the realities in schools. The need for security and geborgenheit lay the foundation for security in the workplace of educators. The need for physical safety is described in this dissertation on the basis of contextual and theoretical frameworks, to a better understanding of teachers' insecurities. The need to experience geborgenheit appeals to the discipline of Education Law, which focuses inter alia on psychological security through an analysis of legal sources. It contributes to achieve the overall objective of this study, namely to determine the perceptions of educators regarding the impact of student misconduct on their security. Several factors, namely school-related factors, labour law factors as well as society related factors that learners come into contact with every day, contributes to misconduct by some learners. It therefore compels all stakeholders in education to become involved in the education of the students and not to perceive education as a "one-man job". From an employment perspective, the promotion of a safe environment, where learners and educators experience geborgenheit, a prerequisite for their physical and psychological security. This will contribute to the holistic performance of the educational task by the teacher for the benefit of the learners. / MEd (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The physical and psychological security of the Foundation Phase educator is currently a cause for concern. This situation is problematic, in that well–qualified and experienced educators will leave the profession if their security is compromised. In addition, prospective students will be reluctant to enter the profession as Foundation Phase educators if there is a possibility of insecurity in their future workplace. The aim of this research is therefore to investigate and establish the factors, both employment related as well as learner related, that contribute to this phenomenon. This inquiry was done from an Education Law perspective to establish what protection these educators are entitled to in terms of labour and education legislation. Utilising a qualitative research design, a variety of findings and the related implications were established. The most important labour related findings are that, in spite of the well–developed legal framework in South African law, the rights of the educator are perceived to be of secondary importance compared to those of the learners and also that the constant changes, for example in education policies, lead to insecurity. In terms of learner and parent related findings, it is evident that the lack of learner discipline, which can be partly attributed to a lack of parental involvement, contributes to declining educator security. The workplace related findings reflect the teacher– learner ratio as being problematic. In addition, the lack of resources in some schools, as well as a classroom environment that is not conducive to effective teaching and the educators' workload all impact on educator insecurity. It is imperative that the recommendations made should be attended to, in order to minimize Foundation Phase educator insecurity. This must be done to the benefit of both the educators and the learners, who are entitled to quality education. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The physical and psychological security of the Foundation Phase educator is currently a cause for concern. This situation is problematic, in that well–qualified and experienced educators will leave the profession if their security is compromised. In addition, prospective students will be reluctant to enter the profession as Foundation Phase educators if there is a possibility of insecurity in their future workplace. The aim of this research is therefore to investigate and establish the factors, both employment related as well as learner related, that contribute to this phenomenon. This inquiry was done from an Education Law perspective to establish what protection these educators are entitled to in terms of labour and education legislation. Utilising a qualitative research design, a variety of findings and the related implications were established. The most important labour related findings are that, in spite of the well–developed legal framework in South African law, the rights of the educator are perceived to be of secondary importance compared to those of the learners and also that the constant changes, for example in education policies, lead to insecurity. In terms of learner and parent related findings, it is evident that the lack of learner discipline, which can be partly attributed to a lack of parental involvement, contributes to declining educator security. The workplace related findings reflect the teacher– learner ratio as being problematic. In addition, the lack of resources in some schools, as well as a classroom environment that is not conducive to effective teaching and the educators' workload all impact on educator insecurity. It is imperative that the recommendations made should be attended to, in order to minimize Foundation Phase educator insecurity. This must be done to the benefit of both the educators and the learners, who are entitled to quality education. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.