Denmark is set to permit teachers to use physical force in classrooms under a new reform aimed at addressing rising incidents of violence among students. The legislation, proposed by the centre-left government, will come into effect in August next year and allow teachers to physically restrain disruptive pupils, including holding them in place or removing them to another room against their will.
Currently, Danish teachers may only use force if a student poses an immediate danger to themselves, others, or school property. The updated law, drafted by the Ministry of Education following advocacy from the national teachers’ union, expands this authority to include exceptional situations where intervention is necessary to maintain order. The use of physical force must be proportionate, with mandatory notification to parents and the municipal council whenever such measures are employed.
Education Minister Magnus Heunicke emphasized that the new rules aim to clarify what teachers are permitted to do during escalating situations. “Teachers must not be left in doubt about what they are allowed to do when a situation escalates. And no teacher should fear being fired for stepping in when necessary in a violent situation,” he stated.
The proposed reform marks a significant shift in policy, as Denmark has effectively banned any form of physical force in schools since outlawing corporal punishment in 1967. However, teachers report growing challenges managing increasingly violent behavior among pupils, particularly in the early years. A survey released by the Ministry of Education on October 1 found that physical violence between students was reported in 55 percent of classes during 2025, with monthly incidents occurring in 36 percent of those classes.
Incidences of violence were especially prevalent among younger students, with 75 percent of classes from reception to third grade reporting at least one violent event, compared to 59 percent in grades four to six and 27 percent in grades seven to ten. The data indicated that violence was concentrated among a small number of pupils, with 60 percent of affected classes identifying one or two students involved. The survey also found no broad link between student ethnicity and rates of violent or aggressive behavior.
Gordon Orskov Madsen, president of the teachers’ union, noted that nearly one in three teachers had refrained from using physical contact to restore order over the past year due to fears of negative repercussions.
The legislation was initially drafted by former Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye, who advocated for restoring “discipline” and “authority” in schools and criticized parents for what he described as poor upbringing of their children. The bill has faced opposition from more than 500 education experts and non-governmental organizations, who warned that permitting physical intervention risks damaging the relationship of trust between students and teachers. Rasmus Kjeldahl, director of the National Children’s Rights Association, expressed concern that the reform may turn teachers into enforcers rather than educators.
Similar policies exist in England, where teachers are allowed to use reasonable physical force to prevent disruption but not as punishment. In contrast, corporal punishment remains legal in 15 U.S. states, with over 32,000 recorded instances during the 2021-22 school year according to federal data. The American Psychological Association cautions that physical punishment can adversely affect children’s self-esteem and may have long-lasting psychological consequences.