An interesting fight is brewing with both parents and teachers opposing a State government plan to seriously reduce the length unruly students may be suspended from classes. The new plan reduces the maximum suspension by half - from twenty days to just ten.
The NSW Teachers Federation, together with the P&C Association feel that this is a thinly veiled exercise in data suppression and blame shifting. They have long been calling for more specialised staff to stop unmet students needs turning into poor behaviour.
Unruly - and sometimes violent students causing chaos in the classroom seems to be a growing trend and it causes the general level of learning to deteriorate. When that happens, the reputation of the school in the community suffers. That particular school becomes known as a " bad " school, and that brings wide ranging social changes.
The reputation of the local school is often the determining factor in the suburb the parents choose when looking to buy or build a home. In fact, parents have been known to sell up and move on the basis of obtaining better education choices for their children. The price of homes in an area surrounding a " good " school increase accordingly.
Suspension is not a penalty given lightly, but it is the only solution when a defiant student is determined to conduct open warfare within the class setting and prevent other students from reaching their potential. The school has a duty to protect its students from both class disruptions and violence on school grounds. Some kids come from violent households and it is not uncommon to find a student at school armed with a knife.
Sadly, it is often a student with anti social tendencies that gains the attention of like minded associates. This " leadership " attribute results in the forming of a " gang " within the school culture, which simply magnifies the chances of disorder in the classrooms. Suspension breaks that connection and is very helpful in restoring order.
In our ever changing world it seems that students with " disabilities " are included in those suspension statistics. It seems strangely coincidental that at the same time suspension is being downgraded in NSW schools a Queensland Aboriginal mother was giving evidence at the Disability Royal Commission into the experience her nine year old son underwent.
Quaden has schondrolasia dwarfism and his travails were recorded in a video which went viral. His breakdown was caused by persistent name calling, being repeatedly pushed to the ground and left out of school activities.
His needs were not met until that video showing his distress was seen by a worldwide audience and she pleaded for what would become " Quaden's Law " to become the standard in Australian schools to stamp out bullying. All too often the reaction to bullying is interpreted as noncompliance and is punished by suspension.
It seems obvious that this suspension question needs more work and a better understanding of exactly what is involved. It needs to be the absolute last resort rather a punishment that masks the school's lack of specialist staff to provide early intervention.
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