AUSTRALIA

Blue Card loophole to be closed after Townsville teacher’s aide shock

According to the Townsville Bulletin, the Queensland Government has promised to close a loophole which allowed employment of a teacher’s aide, who allegedly showed a naked photo of himself to students, prior to being granted a Blue Card.  Police allege the teacher’s aide showed the explicit photo to three Year 4 boys.  The Education Minister announced that the Queensland Government will adopt a “No Card, No Start” policy closing the loop hole which allows full-time staff to start work while Blue Card results are pending.

Student sexually abused by school teacher gets apology from NSW Education Department, 40 years later

ABC News reported that a former student who was sexually abused by a teacher as a child, has now received an apology from the NSW Department of Education more than 40 years after the incident.  The former student was just 15-years-old when he was groomed by his science teacher and then coerced into living with him.  The former student discovered that his abuser was still working in the school system and was employed as a school principal, resulting in the former student taking his complaints to the Police which later resulted in a conviction against the teacher in 2007.

Mystery vibrations at a Sydney high school building sends students running for the playground

The Daily Telegraph wrote how students and staff at a Sydney high school were told to evacuate after a multi-storey building started to vibrate and shake.  The source of the vibration remains a mystery even after the school’s building was declared safe by the school’s engineers and authorities. Tunnelling works were underway in the area, but this has been ruled out as the cause as these works were too distant from the school to have any effect.

Allegations by former student against ex-staff member

According to The Mercury, a Hobart school has confirmed receipt of a complaint from a former student alleging sexual abuse by a former staff member.  The school has contacted Tasmania Police about the allegations and arranged for an independent investigation.

School growing program helps nurture students with learning difficulties

ABC News wrote about an Adelaide School running a program to help children with learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities.  The program helps students gain practical experience in horticulture and cooking while at the same time earn VET qualifications to assist establishment of future careers.

Amber alert: Man claims he has child in bag

The Courier Mail reported on a Brisbane man who has been charged with causing a public nuisance after threatening to harm a child he had in his bag.  Police were called immediately to investigate and extensive patrols were conducted fearing the child may be in danger.

Supreme Court hears of school teacher concerns after staff training session

According to NT News, a staff training session covering the signs of sexual grooming raised a lot of red flags with colleagues at an NT school.  A teacher is currently standing trial on multiple indecent dealing and assault charges.   The accused teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to allegations from three female students as he claims the allegations are false.  The allegations surfaced after a girl came forward after she told her mother while interstate during school holidays.   The NT Supreme Court heard that the teacher focused his attention on one girl, including sending messages via social media outside of school hours.

INTERNATIONAL

New Zealand: Kids steal school bus from primary school

The New Zealand Herald reported on two 13-year-old boys breaking into a garage and stealing a school bus from a primary school. The boys drove the bus through a closed garage door and residents in neighbouring properties called Police after being alerted by the noise. Police apprehended the two teenagers after the bus had been driven 50-60m across the school grounds.

New Zealand: Teachers could get more powers to physically control students

Newshub reported that the New Zealand Education Minister has not ruled out a review of powers to physically control misbehaving students.  This comes after a controversial decision where a teacher was found guilty of misconduct after grabbing a student and carrying him to the principal’s office when the student was caught hurting another student.  The current rules require a student to be in serious and imminent risk to safety before teachers could use reasonable and proportionate physical restraint.