OKAY, BACK TO SCHOOL

Suspension backflip

THE Hobart school that the Mercury yesterday revealed was suspending students for being five minutes late to class has backflipped on the rule.

Despite 16 kids having been suspended this week for such tardiness, the Education Department confirmed in a statement late yesterday that Sorell High School had — after “community feedback” — “been supported to … ensure its behaviour-management approach aligns with broader department policies”.

The hard-line approach had been due to an increase in late arrivals, the statement said.

A SOUTHERN school has backflipped on its hard-line policy to immediately suspend students arriving late to class.

The new rules, revealed by the Mercury on Thursday, were enforced at Sorell High School this week and resulted in students more than five minutes late to class suspended for a day.

Students also faced suspensions for leaving class without a pass and failing to follow “a reasonable request or instruction after one reminder”.

But only two days after the measures were implemented, and after at least 16 pupils were reportedly suspended, the school rescinded the policy.

The Education Department said yesterday afternoon suspensions for arriving late or leaving early would cease.

“After receiving community feedback, the school has been supported to review the suspensions to ensure its behaviour-management approach aligns with broader department policies,” a statement said.

“The department understands the concern this has caused for the families. The suspensions will not be recorded.” The department said Sorell had battled an increased number of students arriving late and leaving early over recent weeks and the issue prompted the policy.

The State Opposition yesterday described the policy as a “scream for help”.

Labor education spokesman Josh Willie, a former teacher, stressed suspension from school should be a last resort punishment.

“[This is] a scream for help from a school that is struggling with its school culture, that is struggling with student attitudes,” Mr Willie said.

There was some social media support for Sorell principal Andy Bennett’s stance, with one parent saying it would help “students understand their responsibilities”, while another person said his “care and forward thinking” was clear.

University of Tasmania behaviour management expert Jeffrey Thomas said he empathised with Mr Bennett for his well-intentioned attempt to resolve a challenging problem.

But he said mandatory suspensions for lateness would “not work in the best interests of the school or its students”.