Marks & Spencer comes under fire from teachers for new product

Teaching could be compromised by the introduction of a new blazer containing MP3 functions sold by UK retailer Marks & Spencer, a teachers' union has argued.

The National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has hit out at the store for failing to consider the needs of school staff when selling its new product.

With the 'Blazer for iPod', youngsters can hide their MP3 player and control it from inside their jacket.

This, general secretary of the union Chris Keates argued, could encourage pupils to listen to music in the classroom.

"Teachers are already battling against the misuse of such technology in classrooms. Pupils nowadays come to school equipped with mobile phones, MP3 players and portable games consoles when teachers would like them to just bring a pen," she stated.

Unions around the UK including NASUWT work to represent the rights of teachers, as well as any other issues affecting their working lives