A SPECIALLY created padded room is being used to house violent and badly behaved young pupils at a primary school in Devon.

A row has erupted over the use of this space -- called a time out room -- which has padded walls and no windows other than reinforced glass on the door.

Teachers are adamant the room has worked, with incidents of verbal and physical abuse dropping by 90 per cent in a year. Educational psychologists also agree in principle with the use of a "time out room" in which badly behaved youngsters can calm down without causing further distress to their classmates.

One boisterous, hyperactive child aged five years was placed in the room, which measures nine foot by nine foot for five minutes when his behaviour in the classroom became severely out of control.

Naturally, the child's parents have this week bitterly condemned the use of the room, calling it "barbaric".

Perhaps they should instead be looking at the appalling behaviour of their young son who swore and tried to kick staff and butt other young pupils.

Let's spare a thought for the much beleaguered teachers in our schools who are left unable to punish pupils in any way without often incurring the wrath and abuse of blinkered parents.

Disciplinary powers are at an all time low in our schhols, and have been on the decrease for the past 30 years or so.

I am not advocating that teachers be able to thrash the living daylights out of pupils, but there is no doubt the balance of power has shifted too far away from authority.

My proof to back this up?

Just take a look at the declining standards of respect, morals, manners and general behaviour increasingly blighting our society.