Teachers, experts, and members of the public have varying opinions over new disciplinary guidelines set to be rolled out across Australian schools.

The framework by the Australian Education Research Organisation has suggested more traditional measures be implemented to combat disruptive behaviour by students.

The guidelines intend to equip teachers with control techniques such as basic desk formations and single-file walking drills.

It also comes in the wake of last week’s strike in which teachers protested for a range of changes to be made.

A Senate inquiry found 20 per cent of teachers’ classroom time was spent dealing with disruptions, coinciding with a 20 per cent increase in WA public school incidents. Some of these episodes have involved the use of weapons.

State School Teachers’ Union of WA President Matt Jarman says behaviour was a major concern in the recent stop-work meetings.

“Student disengagement and poor behaviour is escalating which has coincided at the same time with a decrease in public school funding,” Mr Jarman says.

“Fair funding is required for public schools, more staff able to support students and that is where we are asking the government to put additional resources.”

Behaviour Tonics director and lead consultant Brad Williams says old-school discipline methods are unlikely to resonate with students.

He believes there are more progressive ways to keep students focused.

“I’d be more about following today’s science and evidence in regard to what helps kids regulate emotions and better behave,” he says.

He agrees with Mr Jarman in that the behavioural issues in schools lie more with teacher support and resources.

“It’s been well commented on that if we looked after teachers more with more resources and support in the classroom then they’ll be able to be the best at their jobs.”

Rhonda Witt has been a teacher for 40 years and believes teachers have always been trained to deal with different characters.

“I don’t understand why people think this is new and innovative,” Ms Witt says.

She believes the framework isn’t necessarily beneficial as all students respond differently to different techniques.

“For some kids, sitting in rows and walking in lines is just the way to get up their noses and make them revolt against you, so you’ve got to just look at the kids and see what their needs are,” she says.

“There’s no one rule that works for every child and every class and teachers are smart enough to work that out and be adaptive.”

However, members of the public differ in opinion.

Kim Marter has a 33-year-old son and believes more traditional measures can be beneficial to ensure a respectful, emerging generation.

“I think anything to make young people do what they need should happen, whether that’s from government, schools or parents”, she says.

“When I was young, they used the cane in schools, and it did no harm.”

“I used those measures on my son and it hasn’t harmed him. Now you’re not allowed to do this in public.”

The framework is expected to be available to all schools across the country by the end of the year, however, it will be up to teacher discretion on how the guidelines are utilised.