School Governance

Victorian principals call for more CCTV to stem attacks

Written by CompliSpace | Jan 27, 2014 1:00:00 PM

The peak association for school principals in Victoria has called on the state government to install more security cameras in schools following an increase of attacks on teachers and principals by parents, according to the ABC.

The Australian Principals Federation has claimed that school administrators were up to seven times more likely to face violence compared to other professions.

"Most parents behave magnificently but there are some who are quite aggressive and quite intimidating and quite threatening and use language that is utterly beyond the pale," said the federation's president Christopher Cotching.

"The reality is we want these people held to account."

The ABC cited recent research by Monash University that found one in five Australian principals had been physically attacked by a parent and one in three had been verbally abused or threatened.

"The employer has got a responsibility and duty of care. They need to find the resources to ensure there's at least some semblance of security and safety,'' said Mr Cotching.