According to an ABC News investigation, the principal of a QLD distance education school faces the cancellation of his teaching registration after an investigation into his conduct by the QLD College of Teachers. The school that he helped to found, Faith Christian School of Distance Education, is also facing complaints to the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board of QLD. In one of the incidents complained about, the principal allegedly acted immaturely and irresponsibly during a water crossing on a school hike, leading to a rescue operation by the SES.
A former employee at a private school in NSW has admitted to the theft of over $400,000 from the school. The Daily Telegraph reports that the school council engaged forensic and legal services in investigating the matter, and it has been reported to police. The school told parents that the former employee has so far repaid $281,000.
In WA, a coalition of private and public schools has submitted a proposal for 'mental wellness' training for school leaders, according to the West Australian. This follows a Monash University report that found that school principals were six times more likely to be assaulted physically and five times more likely to be threatened with violence. Mr Breen, the WA Primary Principals Association president, was paraphrased in the Daily Telegraph as saying that it was more cost-effective for the Government to put money into programs to support principals instead of paying out tens of thousands of dollars in workers compensation. The WA Education Minister, will consider the proposal.
ABC News reports that the review of the Australian Curriculum 'makes no case for change'. In the interim report, recently published by the reviewing panel, outlines the terms and reference and scope of the review, which is looking at the 'robustness, independence and balance' of the Curriculum. Over 1,500 submissions have been sent to the reviewing panel, which is due to make its final report by 31 July 2014.
The Herald Sun has published a piece on new rules in Victoria that will force schools to write reports in plain English. They report that phrases, such as 'is able to identify, use and explain how patterns can be applied to test conjectures' will be outlawed under the new changes. The new guidelines written by the VIC curriculum authority will require school reports to use simple English, and easy for parents to understand.
An investigative report in the Guardian has looked at the punishments meted out to parents in the various states of the US, for their truant children. It found that the research showed that the levying of fines only exacerbated the underlying problems that prevented parents from getting their children to school. It also argued that supporting measures are more effective than punitive measures in addressing truancy.
A school in the UK has refused a mother permission to take her 9 year old son out of school to attend her wedding. She is reported in the Daily Mail as saying that she is prepared to go to prison over the matter. The school stated that the request did not satisfy grounds of 'exceptional circumstances'. In the UK, parents can face significant fines for truant children.
A private school principal in New Zealand has refused to allow a father to attend a school camp as he was an active gang member and not considered a good role model. The article in the Rotorua Daily Post attracted more than 650 comments, which were mixed in their response. The principal stated that his school did not have a specific policy on the issue but that schools had to consider the risks of taking on active gang members as volunteers at camp and the potential for an offence to occur.
A teacher has been hospitalised and 10 students were treated by paramedics after being injured by a school fence that became electrified. The Mirror speculates that the fence was electrified after power lines were cut earlier in the day. Students were evacuated to the playground following the incident.