AUSTRALIA

Education Department accused of 'whitewashing' sexual abuse after editing parents' submissions

According to the Bendigo Advertiser, parents have accused the Victorian Education Department of “whitewashing” after they found out the Department deleted crucial information from parents’ submissions.  In one case, the Department changed a parent’s submission so it read that their child was bullied at school, instead of sexually abused.  This follows a privacy breach at the Department after they published confidential information.

Victorian schools axe cleaning company over underpayment claims

The Sydney Morning Herald reported about a network of Victorian public schools cutting ties with cleaning a contractor due to allegations that school cleaners have been underpaid.  The cleaning company was stripped of all 17 contracts.  The Victorian Department of Education banned the cleaning company from working in government schools after receiving correspondence from the company stating that it may be in contravention of workplace laws.

'Hundreds' of child sex offenders remain under radar at WA schools

Through a freedom of information request, WA Today reported about the WA Department of Education being unaware of the number of child sex offenders attending WA schools.  The Children’s Court of WA released data showing 132 children aged between ten and 17 were charged with sexual offences in 2015-16, with 10 children receiving custodial sentences for the sexual assault offences.  This revelation comes after angry parents demanded laws that gag state government from informing schools and parents about child sex offenders in their community be changed.

Unvaccinated children to be banned from WA childcare centres, preschools, McGowan says

The ABC News reported about the WA Government proposing to introduce laws to keep unvaccinated children out of childcare centres and pre-schools.  Currently WA parents are allowed to enrol unvaccinated children into childcare and pre-schools.

INTERNATIONAL

Canada: Teacher jailed for sex with boys and sending them lewd photos

7 News reported about a Canadian teacher who has been jailed for two years after being convicted of sending nude photos to, and engaging in sexual intercourse with multiple teenage boys between the ages of 13 and 18, over a three year period.  The teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation, two counts of luring, possession of child pornography and making explicit material available to people under 18 and people under 16.

USA: Preschoolers Hospitalised After School Science Experiment Goes Wrong

According to Gizmodo, 12 students at a Houston preschool were injured when a class science experiment went wrong.  A teacher was demonstrating how to make coloured flames when using boric acid and methanol.  Unfortunately the experiment went wrong and a chemical flash occurred, resulting in seven of the students being hospitalised for minor burns.

USA: 2 teachers dismissed after student with ADHD receives award for 'Most Likely to Not Pay Attention'

ABC News reported about two Atlanta teachers being dismissed after awarding an eighth grader, with ADHD, a Most likely to not pay attention award at a school assembly.  A school board member made a statement saying they had “insensitive award categories” and they “will neither condone nor tolerate any activities or insensitive behaviour that may cause embarrassment or humiliation to our children."