NO CROSSING CHALK LINE
PRINCIPALS and teachers should be able to wear body cameras, much like police, in the classroom, in the playground and particularly in dealing with thug parents.
We know that in suggesting that, many working in schools, in education faculties in the universities and in government departments at state and federal level will be horrified. Well, how about employing guards?
When Gold Coast principals are being threatened by parents and told their heads will be rammed into concrete, as has happened, or a knife is pulled at a meeting that was intended to resolve a student’s behavioural issues, the signs are clear that respect for authority has not only gone out the window but evaporated completely.
These in-your-face acts of aggression have escalated the level of disrespect from merely stalking, bullying and defaming principals and teachers online. Violence and threats of violence cannot be excused, despite attempts to explain away such actions as worried parents losing control.
So what policies are there to stop abusive, violent behaviour from adults? Whatever they are, they are not working.
Many teachers remain committed to their students and cling to a belief they can absorb poor behaviour and salvage the child from the wreckage of a bad home environment. We respect those teachers for their dedication.
They are professionals with wonderful, caring hearts. In many instances they are right. But they need protecting too.
When parents abuse, threaten and assault principals and teachers, with their children present, they have gone many steps too far. There is no going back from that sort of behaviour.
Drastic action is required and it is the Bulletin’s contention that if the Federal and State Governments are too distant or frightened to take firm steps, and can only offer motherhood rubbish when asked to comment, then school staff have to protect themselves. Whether it is waving a white flag to wear a camera or to have guards in the school grounds is moot.
Bad parents should be charged and dealt with in the courts, and not protected by a misguided loyalty to the school and its community.
If a toxic bunch of parents think they can walk over everyone including the principal, it is a bad lesson for the children – and teachers might as well give up.