School fundraising: Money raised by parents subject to greater scrutiny under proposed overhaul
The Herald Sun reported on new rules on fundraising by volunteer parent clubs introduced by the Victorian Government. There are increased restrictions on fund management, including a requirement that any spending must first receive school council approval. The rules aim to reduce the risk of mismanagement of funds, while also improving transparency. While some have welcomed the changes, Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy suggested that the changes would make associations fearful of losing control of funds raised and diminish their role.
Spike in threats to schools and staff safety at ACT Schools in 2016
Canberra Times commented on the ACT Education directorate’s 2015-16 Annual Report, which showed that threats to schools and staff incident reports have experienced an ‘abnormal’ increase. This was despite the directorate having implemented 15 of the 50 Schools for All recommendations tabled by the expert panel on students with complex needs and challenging behaviour. An education spokesman said that changes to the terms of critical incident reporting make it impossible to contextualise the increases considered by the report.
Drowning spike prompts calls for mandatory swimming lessons in primary schools
The Sydney Morning Herald wrote on various calls for compulsory swimming classes to be introduced in NSW primary schools. The calls have been precipitated by the summer drowning toll rising to 18, with Royal Life Saving NSW reporting that half the state’s primary school students are unable to swim upon commencing high school. There is also suggestion that the cost of swimming lessons has increased, leaving some parents unable to afford them; YMCA chief executive Leisa Hart promoted the introduction of rebates on learn-to-swim classes by the NSW government.
Yorkeys Knob school on alert for venomous snakes after neighbour bitten by taipan
The Cairns Post wrote on the fatal biting of a man by a taipan in his home, which is about 50 metres away from a Cairns state school. A neighbour claimed that she had asked the school’s principal to remove overgrown vegetation from behind the school to reduce the risk of attracting snakes, but a member of the Yorkeys Knob Residents Association said the school had very well maintained grounds. A Department of Education and Training spokesman said no snakes had been found at the school.
Thousands of Queensland schoolchildren will spend year in temporary classrooms
In this Daily Telegraph report, rising student numbers in Queensland are placing pressure on school infrastructure, causing an increase in demountable classrooms. Parents and Citizens’ Associations have also confirmed they are still funding air conditioning units in ‘hothouse schools’, years after calling on the Government to take on this responsibility. Education Minister Kate Jones has said that newly constructed facilities have units installed, and that temporary classrooms match the quality, comfort and functionality of conventional facilities.
UK: Book explaining gender diversity to primary school children sparks furore
The Guardian has reported on the introduction of a controversial new book into some primary schools in the UK. “Can I Tell You About Gender Diversity?” is to be used as a resource for children, parents and teachers, with its publisher suggesting there is a lack of available resources concerning gender identity. While Daily Mail articles suggested the book taught children to stop using the terms ‘girls’ and ‘boys’, and threatened their sanity, its author CJ Atkinson denied the allegations, labelling media coverage of the book’s upcoming publication misleading and inaccurate.