NSW Education: Teachers told to dob in fat kids

The Daily Telegraph reported that all staff at government schools - including teachers, principals, and administration staff - are “dobbing in” obese students to welfare workers under a new Department of Education mandate classifying obesity as a “child protection issue”.   The Australian Medical Association have already criticised the Department of Education’s decision as “social engineering” and also said that "parents have the right to decide what is right for their children".

Islamic College of SA fights imminent closure with just $1.30 in bank

ABC News reported about the Islamic College of South Australia just having $1.30 left in the bank account and $200,000 in debt.  Parents have removed around 100 students due to the Federal Government announcement that it would cut $4 million dollars in funding because it was failing to meet the conditions set by the South Australian Education and Training Department.  The new principal held an urgent meeting with the remaining 550 students and urged parents to pay promptly to assist the College from being declared insolvent.

School picks two head boys, no girl

According to the West Australian, a government school has picked two boys as student leaders and no girls from their Year 12 cohort .  The principal said that the students were picked on their positions of merit and not gender.

Schools threatened with deregistration amid 'deeply offensive' request

The Age reported that the Department of Education Victoria has threatened government schools with deregistration if they did not sign statutory declarations to say they comply with new statutory child safety standards.

Agriculture added to school curriculum at Belmore Boys High School

The News Local reported about a school garden program which led a school to teach agriculture and add it to their HSC curriculum.   This has also resulted in pupils being more engaged with their school and gives the students a sense of ownership and pride in their school.

Nothing uniform about school uniforms now

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, schools are now not only offering male and female uniform options they are offering a variety of dress options so students and parents have a choice.  Schools are also offering uniform options for students who practice a particular religion.

Punchbowl school hostile to police help

The Australian reported about the New South Wales Department of Education decision to remove a principal and deputy principal from a Sydney secondary school.  The Department’s decision has come after multiple staff complaints about staff safety and how school management developed an openly hostile relationship with the Police.   Also, a senior member of management has been known to refer to Police as “pigs” and allegedly told students to film the Police on their phones if they were ever approached.  Police community liaison officers have not been able to access the school the past two and a half years, even after a reported history of violence at the school.

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