AUSTRALIA

School principals at higher risk of burnout, depression due to workplace stress, survey finds

According to ABC News, one in five school principals are overwhelmed by workplace stress.  Results from the Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey 2017 revealed almost half of the principals surveyed had faced threats of violence at work, and one in three had experienced actual violence.  Principals reported higher levels of burnout than the general population, twice as much difficulty sleeping due to stress and were at higher risk of depression. Around 2,800 principals, deputies and assistant principals across the country were surveyed, a survey that was conducted by academics from Australian Catholic University and supported by school associations and teachers’ health unions.

Why Police in schools won’t reduce youth crime in Victoria

In an opinion piece The Conversation wrote about why Police in schools will not reduce youth crime in Victoria. The Police in Schools Program in Victoria was abolished in 2006 and in the 12 years since the program was abolished, youth crime in Victoria remains the second lowest of all states. The Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has proposed that 100 “new” Police be “put deliberately and directly into our schools” with an aim to reduce youth crime. The author, a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Melbourne, states that: "This policy represents an anachronistic, paternalistic approach to the “problem” of youth crime. It’s ill-informed and out of step with evidence about what works to prevent and reduce children’s involvement in offending."

NSW primary school suspensions skyrocket

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the number of suspensions handed out at NSW primary schools has increased by 10 per cent in the last two years.  Results have also found that students in the south western suburbs of Sydney are more than four times as likely to receive a suspension than students in other parts of Sydney.  The latest figures released by the NSW Department of Education show that across NSW primary and secondary schools, 65,610 suspensions were issued in 2016, down from 66,020 in 2014.

Churches want child sex abuse compensation extended to criminals

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that churches and religious organisations have told the Federal Government it should extend its compensation scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to those who have been convicted of serious crimes.  In a joint submission to a Federal Government committee examining a redress scheme, the Anglican Church, the Uniting Church and the Salvation Army said that extending the scheme would mean “all survivors are eligible for redress.” The submission said that: “It is well known and recognised by the royal commission that some survivors - as a result of their abuse - have engaged in abusive conduct themselves, including criminal conduct. It would be unfair that such persons are ineligible for redress."

Noise levels dialled up as school's total phone ban gets kids talking

The Age wrote about a Melbourne school banning students from having access to their phones and requiring them to store their phones in their lockers, even during breaks. The one thing that the principal did not anticipate was the level of noise because students are off their phones. Apparently it started impacting on the student's learning opportunities.  The push to ban mobile phones did not come from the school it came from the students who were concerned with the devices distracting them in class.

INTERNATIONAL

USA: Florida school shooting: Families yet to learn news of victims as 17 confirmed dead

SBS News reported that at least 17 people are dead after a shooter opened fire at a high school in Florida. The suspect was identified as a former student who was expelled from the high school for “disciplinary reasons.” This incident is one of the deadliest in modern US history and is the 18^th school shooting in the US this year.

USA: Florida students to march on Washington and demand gun control

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that there would be organised nationwide marches for gun control next month. Students said they will try and create a “badge of shame” for politicians who take money from the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups.  Students are trying to urge the US President and other elected officials to do something about gun violence and gun control laws.