AUSTRALIA

Teens charged after WA school trashed

News.com.au reports that charges have been laid against three 13-year-old boys after Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School was trashed on Friday. The school had just gone through the first stage of a major $45 million dollar redevelopment with 24 new classrooms officially opened on Friday. That same night, a person or people broke in and caused extensive damage to the facilities. In an allegedly connected incident, police were called to a Target store after onlookers noted vandals trying to break down the glass doors. Police then managed to arrest two teenagers in the car park of the store while a further two fled to a construction site.The Police are confident that the incidents are connected.

NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli slams productivity commission's national education report

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Adrian Piccoli, NSW Education Minister, has criticised a federal Productivity Commission report into Australian schools. He believes the study was a waste of taxpayer funding believing that the information the government has released does not realise any new ideas that were not already understood four years ago. The report, commissioned by Treasurer Scott Morrison earlier this year found that 14 per cent increase in spending per student over the last ten years had not improved overall academic performance in Australian  schools. Mr Piccoli continues to attack his Federal Coalition counterparts regarding the Turnbull Government's response to the Gonski commitment. He believes the government is attempting to rationalise cutting Gonski promised funding with what he considers is a skewed report.

Haileybury College students round up more than 400 pairs of football boots for disadvantaged kids

The Leader reports that students from Haileybury College in Victoria have sourced more than 400 pairs of football boots to donate to the Reagan Milstein Foundation for its Reboot for Reagan program. The program is geared towards providing children from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support they need to pursue their sporting ambitions that would otherwise not be possible. Sean Allcock, the College's sport director said the school was focussed on social justice. He saw the program as 'the perfect opportunity' to support the community and promote a good cause. Rhea Schreuder, year 12 girls soccer captain called it 'a pretty amazing effort' on the part of all the Haileybury students who contributed.

There are 180 NSW schools over capacity, Department of Education figures show

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a NSW parliamentary inquiry has brought to light that more than a third of NSW schools are full and 180 are beyond capacity. Jihad Dib, Shadow Education Minister and former school principal said that metalwork shops and other alternative buildings and facilities were being used to teach English. He went on to say, 'It's a huge amount of pressure on schools and teachers are being forced to find spaces outside of classrooms'. The problem is particularly important for regional schools where over-capacity and overcrowding is common and students are being forced to travel further in order to find a school that can accommodate them.

Geelong schools ban costumes in crackdown on VCE muck-up day

The Advertiser reports that schools in Geelong are calling it quits on the Year 12 "muck-up day" antics. One school has banned masks and another has banned clown costumes in the wake of the 'clown craze' that is seeing people dressed as frightening clouds scaring children and adults alike in parklands, schools and on public transport. One Christian school in the region has turned what has been in the past a difficult time into a positive experience providing a celebratory breakfast for students as well as a ceremony involving fun prizes voted and presented 'by students, for students' along with the final ringing of the bell in the Clock Tower.

INTERNATIONAL

Nottinghamshire parents to be fined if children miss three days of school each half term

The Nottinghamshire Post reports that the Nottinghamshire County Council is holding its position on truancy or unauthorised absence. Earlier this year the authority reduced the acceptable absences to three days of school for half a term. If a student has further unauthorised absences a fine will be triggered. Parents will be required to front the £60 fine within a 21-day window, otherwise, the fine will double to £120. John Peck, chairman of the committee said that there is a relationship between attendance and overall good attainment. He viewed his decision regarding the fines to be driven by his desire for Nottinghamshire to fall in line with 'the national picture' for absence rates.

Special needs students being pressured out of schools says report

The NZ Herald reports that an alarming trend is emerging out of a new report from YouthLaw Aotearoa. The research shows that students with special education needs are 'grossly over-represented' in the statistics of informal school removals. The reason cited – that parents are encouraged to remove their children from the school so that the school does not record it as a formal removal. Hekia Parata, Education Minister, revealed that suspensions and expulsions are at the lowest level in schools in 16 years, however, according to the author of YouthLaw's report, lawyer Jen Walsh, this is not an accurate portrayal of the position of students with special needs. She stated that her office has seen a dramatic rise in the caseload related to informal removals in the last three years. She believes it is due to the culturally ingrained 'incentive to perform'.

US teacher fired for shoving young boy

Nine News reports that US primary school teacher, Troy Vann, has been fired after an incident in which he was filmed pushing a five-year-old to the floor and racially slurring him. In the film available online the teacher who is a behavioural specialist shoves the student onto a bean bag. Exavier Williams, a year eight pupil, also in the room at the time, said he began the recording after he was concerned with how 'mad the guy was getting' US ABC News reports. According to Mrs Williams, the school principal deleted the footage but her son had sent it to another phone to keep a copy. The mother of the child reportedly assaulted in the clip has spoken of her disbelief. The teacher has been 'immediately removed from duty' now pending further investigation.