WHEN violence in schools is reported on the news, with past history, it is all too easy to assume the incident happened overseas - surely our children are safe in Australian schools, aren’t they?
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While the Department of Education and Communities maintains schools are one of the safest places for children and young people, it is still disturbing to know term 1 set a record for reportable incidents in western NSW this year.
Attending school can be stressful enough, between challenging academic topics and schoolyard politics, without students having to fear for their safety.
A child should not have to consider the possibility that a classmate could be carrying a knife or that they could be struck by a rogue rock aimed at a window.
The incident in Dubbo where a mother assaulted another mother at a school assembly demonstrates parents are not blameless, despite their position as role models in their children’s eyes.
It is reassuring to know 86 per cent of schools did not report a single incident and better reporting does carry greater accountability for perpetrators, but some can slip through the cracks and schools need to be confident they can protect their students.
Additional security is always an option. A security guard on the premises could discourage a potential wrongdoer from acting dangerously if they felt they had a greater chance of being caught.
On the other hand, schools’ high, black security fences make these learning hubs look enough like fortresses without additional manpower on patrol.
As the DEC points out, most students show acceptable levels of respect, with schools working with students and their parents to promote better behaviour and student wellbeing. Long-term, this is most likely the best solution.
If at-risk students can be assisted early, more drastic measures will not be necessary.