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November 23: School Governance Weekly Wrap

22/11/17
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AUSTRALIA

Perth boy's family call for day care pool ban after drowning death
ABC News reported about a family of a two-year-old boy who tragically drowned at a Perth family day care centre who want pools to be banned at day care centres across Western Australia. A coronial inquest is investigating how the boy came to be in the pool, and how regulations for pools in family day care centres can be improved.  The coronial court into the boy’s death heard that the below-ground pool in the centre's backyard was deemed to be compliant by Surf Life Saving WA on behalf of the City of Wanneroo.  The court was told that it was not clear if the boy had climbed pot plants to enter the pool area of if the gate had been firmly closed.

Queensland Scouts leader charged with 'serious' child porn offences
The Brisbane Times reported about a Queensland Scouts Leader charged with nine “extremely serious” child pornography charges, who has been kept behind bars after a magistrate ruled it was too risky to let him out. The Magistrate said that “I am satisfied that should bail be granted there would be an unacceptable risk that you would commit other offences while on bail and/or endanger the welfare or safety of members of the community.” If convicted, the Scouts Leader will face a lengthy prison sentence.

NT royal commission: Legal group calls for immediate moratorium on child arrests
ABC News wrote about the principal legal officer from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) calling for police and prosecutors to put an immediate stop on child arrests following the recommendations from the NT Royal Commission into youth detention.  He said that arrests at an early age risked entrenching young people in the criminal justice system in ways that could have lifelong consequences.

Perth teacher refused service wearing school jacket
The West wrote about how a 49-year-old Perth teacher has questioned WA’s liquor laws after not being served because he was wearing a school jacket. The teacher never expected to be refused service at his local bottle shop since he has not been a school student for 32 years.  The teacher said “The guy actually said to me ‘Oh look, I’ll serve you this time, but next time I won’t be able to. I said, ‘why is that?’. He said, ‘because you’ve got a school crest, logo, on your jacket'.”

Employers say schools are failing to prepare students for employment
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the NSW Business Chamber has called for an overhaul of the school education system in response to employer concerns that students are not being prepared to deal with the modern workplace. The NSW Business Chamber report Old School/ New School: Transforming school education for the 21st century, says that new and innovative ways of teaching and learning on top of tried and tested techniques are needed in schools across Australia to prepare for a 21st century workforce.

Principal threatens to run alternative schools illegally despite non-compliance report
ABC News reported about a principal of three alternative schools in NSW that has challenged the NESA to prosecute her after a scathing 22 page report revealed issues of non-compliance in areas including staffing, curriculum, buildings, child protection and financial reporting.  The NESA’s report said it was of “serious concern” that there were no students present at any of its inspections of the school’s campuses.  Apparently, the principal denied almost all of the claims and had evidence to prove the NESA wrong.

Bush school embraces solar power as students build panels for fish farm
ABC News wrote about a tiny regional school in South Australia’s south-east that is hoping to become a model for sustainable living with a 100 percent solar-powered trout farm.  The school has commenced a major renewable energy project that will see its students build solar panels to be attached to a battery storage pack and run pumps to recirculate water through a fish farm.  The school’s science teacher said the operation would be much more environmentally sustainable as it is expected to cut energy costs for the school.


INTERNATIONAL

Canada: Are teachers facing too much violence in schools?
CBC News reported about an Ottowa Teacher speaking up about being viciously attacked by a student in his school.  One teacher even suffered a hip fracture after he was attacked by a student. Unfortunately, the number of teachers across the country who say they have experienced physical violence or harassment in a classroom is growing.  Some of the incidents include hair pulling, chair throwing, scissor throwing, choking, biting, spitting and concussions.

USA: California shooting: Four dead, two children injured in primary school shooting
ABC news reported about school staff ushering children out of a bullet riddled school in a small Californian town.  A gunman carrying a semi-automatic weapon and two handguns killed four people and wounded 10 people, including two children at the school. The suspect was later shot dead by Police.

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