Television linked with naughty kids

Bad behaviour in the classroom has been linked with television shows in a new report from a teaching union.

A survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers shows 81 per cent of its members think programmes have a negative impact on behaviour.

It also reveals catchphrases from shows, primarily Little Britain and The Catherine Tate Show, are being carried into the classroom.

Ralph Surman, a member of the Government's School Behaviour Task Force and the union, called for action to combat the problem.

"All of the violence and all of the issues that run through the soaps - they are very things that are eating away at the fabric of society," he declared. "It creates endemic damage."

He thought characters in soaps "always have low aspirations, they are uncaring, they don't treat individuals very well - you've got anger, domestic violence".

"Children particularly cannot separate fantasy from reality - that's why I call it soap opera syndrome," continued Surman. "They don't know what is real and what is not real. They all carry on like they are in Big Brother."

The top 10 catchphrases heard by teachers:

1. Whatevah (The Catherine Tate Show and Little Britain) - 69 per cent
2. Am I bovvered? (The Catherine Tate Show) - 65 per cent
3. D'oh! (The Simpsons) - 54 per cent
4. Innit? (Little Britain) - 48 per cent
5. The computer says no (Little Britain) - 39 per cent
6. You are the weakest link... goodbye (The Weakest Link) - 28 per cent
7. I'm a celebrity... get me out of here (I'm a Celebrity...) - 12 per cent
8. You have been evicted (Big Brother) - 10 per cent
9. WAGs (WAGs Boutique) - nine per cent
10. This fing you know nuffin about (Little Britain) - four per cent