Australia

WA Education Dept underestimates behavioural problems: Auditor-General 

A report by the WA Auditor-General has found that the Western Australian Department of Education does not understand how widespread behavioural problems are in schools across the state, according to the ABC. "We found that the department really doesn't have a good handle on what's going on in schools - they need better information about strategies and what's working and what's not," he said. "It's a significant amount of teacher and school time that goes into behaviour management."

NSW police launch truancy blitz on Sydney's north shore

The Daily Telegraph has reported that in a two week period, two police truancy operations caught 21 high school students playing video games at internet cafes on Sydney's north shore.

School canteens break sugar rules

The Australian Associated Press has reported that according to a nutrition expert, school canteens are breaking rules that ban the sale of confectionery and sugary drinks. Dr Kieron Rooney, a senior lecturer in biochemistry and exercise physiology at the University of Sydney, said the rules are not being properly enforced and that school guidelines are out of sync with the latest national dietary guidelines.

Teacher gets $1000 speeding and licence fine while driving school bus

A teacher has been fined more than $1000 for speeding and driving a school bus without the proper licence in the NSW Riverina, according to media reports. The school coach was clocked traveling 125km/h along the Hume Highway, while carrying 28 children back to Victoria after an event in Canberra. "The potential for a crash in this scenario was significant, and we are thankful to have pulled the bus over before a tragedy unfolded," Acting NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Stuart Smith said.

International

US students reprimanded over racist tweets

The Associated Press has reported that a high school in Michigan has reprimanded students who posted racist messages on Twitter, in reference to a predominantly white basketball team who defeated an interracial team. The Twitter posts included Klu Klux Klan and Hitler references about the winning team.

Student sues school after being banned from graduation over tweet

The Courthouse News has reported that a student has claimed in the US Federal Court that she was unconstitutionally banned from her graduation and prom, following a tweet where she called her Principal a "pussy ass bitch". "The school district defendants have violated H.W.'s constitutional right to free speech by imposing school discipline for non-threatening, purely off-campus speech, which H.W. expressed at home on Twitter to her friends,'' said the student and her mother.

Scottish school backs down from suspending students for smuggling Lucozade

A Scottish school has come under criticism from parents for suspending three teenagers for smuggling Lucozade into a school to sell to fellow students, according to the Mirror. The 13-year-olds were originally suspended for two days, before complaints by a mother led to the students receiving written warnings. “My son has never been excluded before. I’m gutted this will go on his record all because he happened to have a bottle of Lucozade Sport,'' said his mother.

Students stage walkout over bangle ban

The Mirror reported that 100 high school students went "on strike" after their school banned charity bracelets in honour of a classmate suffering from leukaemia. The school said the bracelets breached its uniform policy. The school is holding a charity non-uniform day on April 11 when the blue and white Team Joel bracelets can be worn.