DEALING WITH OUR UNRULY KIDS
CHILDREN assaulting and threatening other kids and teachers with knuckle dusters, baseball bats, knives, scissors and other weapons are among the events that led to more than 12,500 suspensions and expulsions across Toowoomba region state schools in the past five years.
A News Regional analysis of Education Department data shows students were more likely to receive short suspensions.
CHILDREN assaulting and threatening other kids and teachers with knuckle dusters, baseball bats, knives, scissors and other weapons are among the events that led to more than 12,500 suspensions and expulsions across Toowoomba region state schools in the past five years.
A NewsRegional analysis of Education Department data shows students were more likely to receive short suspensions with 54 Toowoomba schools issuing 11,497 of these.
There were 722 long suspensions and 308 exclusions over the five years.
The special investigation also shows there were 38 episodes of physical misconduct with a range of weapons at state schools in the Darling Downs education region in 2016-17.
Five of the region’s larger schools had the most disciplinary absences.
Centenary Heights State High School recorded 1459 suspensions and expulsions in 2013–2017.
Laidley State High School had 1413, Harristown State High School 1347, Lockyer District State High School issued 1236 and Wilsonton State High School had 848. The Chronicle sought comment from local principals but they did not respond to the request.
Queensland Teachers’ Union Toowoomba representative Liam Holcombe said suspensions and expulsions were a last resort.
“Schools have responsible behaviour plans to ensure that students are able to learn and teachers can teach and there are consequences when there are persistent behaviours that cause disruptions,” Mr Holcombe said.
Education Minister Grace Grace urged carers to be good role models and for students to consider their actions.
“There is no place for poor behaviour, bullying or violence in our schools,” Ms Grace said.
Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association president Mark Breckenridge said disciplinary absences helped maintain safety at schools.
“They are not the first point of action, they are a stage approach to maintaining discipline and sometimes a disciplinary action has to be applied,” he said.
A Department of Education spokesperson said each school had a written plan that spelled out how schools managed unruly kids.
“The Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students ... outlines that there are certain types of behaviour serious enough to warrant a significant consequence such as exclusion,” the spokesperson said.
“For example, a student who uses a weapon at school could expect to be proposed for exclusion.”