Australia

Facebook won't take down school fight video

Facebook has refused to take down a page on which videos of schoolyard fights are being posted. 9News reports that on the page, there is a video of two WA year 9 students brawling who has subsequently been suspended.

Calls to sexual abuse hotline increased since Royal Commission

A Sydney Morning Herald analysis of the Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA) support line has found that calls to the line have increased fourfold since the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse began. The article stated that 'the study of 4000 callers found the most common age for abuse to occur was between 6-10 years of age, but the majority of callers seeking help were aged between 40-49 years old'.

Qld principal named Business Person of the Year

The Sunshine Coast Business Awards has named Maria Woods, Headmistress of Sunshine Coast Grammar School as Business Person of the Year. The Sunshine Coast Daily reports on the awards.

NSW immunisation rates improve

News.com.au has reported that figures released by NSW Health show that the percentage of children immunised in NSW has improved, with the proportion of five-year-olds immunised being 92.3. The article reports that last year, rates in some parts of NSW 'dropped lower than that of third world countries'.

NSW high school drops religious classes

Newcastle High School will not offer scripture classes in 2015 after the Newcastle Special Religious Education (SRE) Board withdrew from the school. The Newcastle Herald also reports that there were only nine students taking special religious education this year.

International

UK teachers not equipped to handle bullying, according to reports

Half of teachers in the UK report that they are not equipped to handle bullying, according to Sky News. This is based on the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England.

Canadian students sue school administrators for defamation

Two Canadian students are claiming CAD $1.6 million in defamation damages from a school headmaster and board member after they were suspended over an incident involving a fight. The Star reports on the ongoing case.

UK teacher bans the word 'banter'

A teacher in the UK has banned the word 'banter' from class in an effort to address bullying. ITV News reports that the teacher wants to stop the word being used to legitimise bullying, and as a 'get out of jail free' card.

Teacher struck off for $107,000 fraud

In NZ, a teacher has had his name struck off the teachers' register, after being convicted of defrauding $107,000 in benefits, according to the Otago Daily Times. He was found guilty of the charges in the Whakatane District Court.