AUSTRALIA

School bans clapping to respect students who are sensitive to noise

News.com reports that a primary school in Sydney has banned clapping and instead allows students to engage in silent cheers, pulling excited faces and punching in the air when prompted by teachers to do so. The new practices have been adopted to respect members of the school community who are sensitive to noise and have been found to expend students’ energy and reduce fidgeting.

Students expelled for ‘vile’ Instagram account

The Age reports that two male students have been expelled from a Victorian non-government school after it was found they had set up an Instagram account that featured photos of young girls and invited others to vote for the ‘slut of the year’. Police are investigating the social media account that used photos of girls as young as 11 without their knowledge. The school’s principal has said that other students involved in the incident have been disciplined and are receiving education and counselling.

Teachers not forced to take Federal numeracy and literacy exam

The Courier Mail reports that hundreds of teaching graduates will not be forced to sit the Federal Government’s literacy and numeracy test this year, despite it being compulsory. Instead, Queensland universities are encouraging rather than demanding graduates pass the test until at least next year. Also, the Queensland College of Teachers does not require graduate teachers to prove that they have passed the test.

Principals need to be Pokemon ready

The West Australian reports that an expert in education technology has said schools need to decide if they will back the Pokemon Go phenomenon or not because they cannot ignore it. Schools consultant Skye Moroney has said that it is concerning that a lot of school principals have not even contemplated how their school will address the new craze. That said, Ms Moroney suggests that it could be a “massive opportunity to really engage with students”.

UN asked to investigate ‘abuses’ of disabled students in Australian schools

The SMH reports that the United Nations has been asked to investigate dozens of incidents in which children with disabilities were allegedly assaulted, locked in dark room and restrained in Australian schools. The request was made by a group of disability organisations who are seeking international intervention because it claims Australia has failed to act.

Students making ‘fairy dust’ from asbestos

WA Today reports that parents at a primary school in Perth claim that their children have been playing with and crushing up asbestos fragments found around the school. One parent told 9 News Perth that her children told her they had been crushing up small pieces of asbestos to make “fairy dust”. The school, which is located on the boundary of an old dumping ground for landfill and building waste, will be subject to a review by the Department of Education into the processes used to clear asbestos in the past.

Child protection top job vacancy concern

The Mercury reports that three months after the man who was expected to lead an important stage of Tasmania’s child protection system re-design stepped down, his replacement is yet to be appointed. A Health and Human Services Department spokesperson has said that this week the recruitment process continues to fill the deputy secretary vacancy. The Deputy Secretary's retirement only two months into the job has sparked concerns from the union representing child protection workers that the system needs greater stability.

NSW government institutes compulsory literacy and numeracy test for students

The SMH reports that the HSC will undergo its biggest overhaul in a generation after NSW’s Education Minister announced a mandatory literacy and numeracy test, a crackdown on cheats and syllabus changes that will see new science subjects and maths marks being awarded for their level of difficulty. The Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) has announced that from 2020 students will have to meet the literacy and numeracy levels of proficient year 9 students to be awarded their Higher School Certificate.

INTERNATIONAL

Teacher accused of sex abuse sues school

The Des Moines Register reports that the sex crimes prosecution of a teacher and basketball coach in Iowa, USA that was dismissed earlier this year as a result of a reckless, shoddy investigation is now the subject of a lawsuit against the school and a police detective. The high school teacher was charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. The charges were dropped in May this year. The new lawsuit claims that the allegations against the teacher were not investigated appropriately by a police detective and the school resource officer.