Australia

Arrests made after racist abuse of Jewish school children

A Sydney school bus carrying around 30 Jewish students home from school was ambushed by a group of young men who screamed racial abuse at the children.  Phrases such as 'Heil Hitler' and 'Kill the Jews' were hurled at the bus occupants.  The children ranged from kindergarten to Year 12 students and were left terrified after what appears to have been a drunken and possibly drug influenced attack.  It remains unclear why the bus driver let the thugs on the bus which was chartered exclusively for a Jewish school.   The Sydney Morning Herald reports that five teenagers have since been arrested by police.   CCTV footage from the bus will also be reviewed.

Private school chaplain in TAS apologises after homophobic Facebook post.

A school chaplain has issued an apology after posting an image to Facebook which begins with 'homosexuality is not normal'. The post, which was reported by the ABC, can be seen on its website. In speaking with the ABC, the chaplain said that he was 'careless' in posting the image for discussion. He has since apologised, and his employers, the Scripture Union, described the post as 'inappropriate'.

Study finds just one day of absenteeism results in poorer academic results

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a study to be presented at the Australian Council for Educational Research Conference 2014 shows that missing just one day of school can have negative impacts on a student's NAPLAN results. The commentary around this issue also centred on the problems facing schools when children are absent for school holidays and Australia's high rate of student skipping school.

De-registered psychologist's bid to work as a school counsellor fails

A school counsellor, who previously breached his professional obligations with inappropriate comments and behaviour, and who was previously found guilty of indecent assault, has failed in his attempt to regain his registration as a psychologist. The counsellor had previously been de-registered but was seeking to be re-registered in order to practice again in schools.

VIC primary school adopts 'glow shirts' as uniform

A school in VIC has introduced uniforms with high-visibility features. According to ABC News, the hi-vis shirts are designed to enhance safety around roads, and on excursions. The students have apparently taken to the new shirts, which were designed by a mother with experience in fashion.

Students use own phones instead of school internet in SA

The pain of a lack of modern internet connections is being felt in SA, where the Advertiser reports that the connections are so bad in some schools that students are using their own mobile phones. In other cases, the few schools which have been connected to the National Broadband Network are reporting a 'revolution' in the way they teach.

International

New US laws bans cupcakes and brownies in school fundraisers 

In the US, federal laws aimed at childhood obesity have forced schools to, as the Australian puts it, 'replace cupcakes and brownies with fruit cups and granola bars'. The laws mandate that the 'bake sales' must adhere to nutritional guidelines. This means that the usual sales of pizza, cookie dough and chocolate bars in school fundraisers will also have to be curbed.

US school teacher brings gun on excursion and is arrested

Also in the US, a teacher in the state of New York has been arrested after she brought a loaded handgun in her handbag on a school excursion. The class was visiting the Statue of Liberty at the time. The teacher has been assigned to an 'Alternate Work Location' whilst the investigation continues.

Parents to pay £23,000 after losing their law suit against a school

Parents at a UK Private school will be made to pay £23,000 in school fees after unsuccessfully suing a school and claiming that their three sons had been bullied and racially abused. The Court rejected their claim, stating that there was 'simply no evidence' that their sons had been bullied or victimised. The Telegraph had the story.

NZ school abandons plans to 'microchip' students

A school in New Zealand has abandoned its proposal to 'microchip' students by giving them silicone wrist bands. These bands were to be used to monitor good behaviour, but did not otherwise track the students. 3 News reported a parent as saying 'It's just plain odd. What's wrong with a sticker book?'.

UK school features staged massacre in leavers' video

A prestigious UK school has produced a controversial leavers' video which features a staged fun massacre. The school apparently has a reputation for producing high quality leavers' videos, and according to the Independent, the film was professionally produced and runs to an hour. Leavers' videos are evidently the subject of rivalry between UK private schools.