Australia

Suspicious fire razes NSW high school library

A fire, suspected to be deliberately lit, has destroyed the library at Galston High School in Sydney’s northwest. The damage is estimated to cost over $2 million. Tim McCallum, of Public Schools New South Wales told ABC News that the events were ‘absolutely devastating’, and that they destroyed irreplaceable records that were to be used in the school’s upcoming 40^th anniversary celebrations.

Eight year old girl attacked in Melbourne School

A man has attacked an eight year old girl within school grounds in east Melbourne. The man had attempted to lead her away from the school, but after she resisted, he punched, kicked and swore at her. The Principal told The Age that the school was ‘immediately introducing new security measures, including a front gate with a pin code and extra staff on playground duty’.

Former WA teacher gives evidence of being bullied for reporting child abuse

The Child Abuse Royal Commission, sitting in Perth, has heard evidence that a former private school teacher was bullied, and had her job threatened, after reporting a teacher’s inappropriate behaviour towards children. According to ABC News, she gave evidence of being physically intimated by other male teachers who ‘fobbed off’ her concerns. The allegations related to incidents that occurred between 1999 and 2005.

SA primary school locked down

Salisbury Heights Primary School has been locked down for 15 minutes following reports of a student who was carrying a knife, The Advertiser has reported. No staff or children were threatened or injured, and the student has been taken to a children’s hospital for assessment

International 

12 year old in Canada attacked as part of a new ‘knockout game’

In Canada, CBC News is reporting on claims by the grandmother of a 12-year-old boy, who states that her grandson has been the victim of a new ritual called ‘the knockout game’. The grandmother has described the game as involving a random attack on an unsuspecting victim, which is then filmed and posted online. The attack occurred on school grounds, and is being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 

NZ mother sues over son’s expulsion amid claims of over-litigious parents

A mother is seeking a Court review of the decision of a school board to expel her 16 year old son. However, principals and board members have seized on this incident to express frustrations about increasingly litigious parents and burdensome regulations. Lorraine Kerr, president of the School Trustees Association told Stuff that there were ‘about 123 Parliament Acts that could impact on boards’, which are causing frustrations for non-legal board members.

UK teacher apologises after tweeting ‘blacked up’ photo of students

A grammar school teacher has apologised after he posted to twitter a picture of students who were dressed with dark make-up to emulate the Jamaican bobsled team from the movie Cool Runnings. The students were dressed up as part of a movie-themed end of year event. The teacher went on to tell The Telegraph that the school ‘is multi-ethnic from both a student and teaching staff perspective and… does much to fight against racism, homophobia, bullying and any form of discrimination’.

Canadian school implements concussion in sports program.

A private school in Canada has partnered with the University of Toronto to develop a program for student in sport who have suffered concussions. Barbara Csenge, the director of student enrichment at the school, told the New York Times that she ‘wanted something formal and medically directed’ in developing a program. With the issue of the long-term effects of brain injury on athletes becoming more prominent in sports such as (American) Football and Hockey, the school is trying to be proactive in meeting new paediatric care guidelines.