These days it can sometimes be hard to determine who are the worst behaved, the pupils or their parents.

Harassed principals are complaining that, in addition to the usual problems of dealing with playground scuffles, maladjusted pupils and other crises both large and small, more attention is being demanded by out-of-control parents with little concept of proper behaviour or respect for school rules.

Some parents verbally abuse teachers, smoke on school property, swear, fight, bring their dogs into schoolyards, interrupt classes and flout traffic rules in school zones.

According to the Bureau of Crime Statistics, police charge almost 200 people a year for assault in the grounds of Hunter education institutions. In 2010, 72 people faced charges including harassment, threatening behaviour, offensive conduct and offensive language on or near Hunter school grounds.

It may be tempting to generalise about broad social factors influencing parental misbehaviour but circumstances vary enormously, creating difficult challenges for schools and police.

Problems may arise, for example, if some parents believe schools are not doing enough to deal with complaints about bullying or victimisation affecting their children. If schools permit these perceptions to persist, some parents may be tempted to deal with the issues themselves, creating the risk of flare-ups and confrontations that may lead to charges.

Schools can minimise the risk of such problems by ensuring they not only tackle these complaints, but are seen to tackle them. If parents feel their concerns about the welfare of their children are being taken seriously, they are less likely to take matters into their own hands.

In many instances, however, schools have little or no influence over the behaviour of parents. In those cases, perhaps, the best advice may be that of Primary Principals Association Newcastle president Narelle Hunt, who has advocated ‘‘a clear code of conduct for parents’’.