AUSTRALIA

Does suspending school students change their behaviour?

ABC News reported about a program which helps suspended school students in Sydney’s Campbelltown area.  There are no national statistics for the number of students suspended from Australian high schools because of the range of education departments and school sectors across the country. The RISE program has been running for two years, helping students catch up on missed classes, do homework, reintegrate back into the school community, and link them up with employers and training opportunities.

The privacy of our school students is up for grabs 

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that school students' data is being analysed by various organisations.  This has raised some concerns over students' privacy and what the data will be used for.

Music teacher loses unfair dismissal claim when sacked for verbal abuse

The Sydney Morning Herald reported about a teacher who lost their unfair dismissal claim, after being dismissed for verbal abuse.  The teacher described her principal as "a maggot in the ground who deserves to be stomped on" and implied that her colleague was faking a disability to get out of playground duty, she failed her unfair dismissal claim against the NSW Department of Education.

School bans children from bringing balls to school

According to the Leader, a Croydon school outraged parents after imposing a ban on children using their own footballs and soccer balls.  A letter to parents from the school said: “The school welfare team has dealt with a surge in sport-related injuries in the playground due to impacts with playing balls that are over inflated and oversized.”  The school said a majority of these injuries related to balls striking children in the head and hands, which resulted in some fractures and mild concussions.

INTERNATIONAL

UK: New policy to fine parents £200 if their child is late to school

7 News reported about schools in the UK schools are issuing £200 fines if a child turns up late to school.  Previously, fines were only extended to term-time holidays and continual absences. Warwickshire County Council has warned parents they will face fines if their children are regularly more than 30 minutes late or turn up after morning registration.

USA: Teachers union dues case vies for Supreme Court

The Washington Examiner wrote about a court case which could end the ability of public-sector unions to force workers to support its political activities.  Under California law, unions can charge teachers for expenses related to collective bargaining as well as the unions' political activities, regardless of whether the teachers support that political spending or not.

USA: What will stars in the new school rating system really mean?

The Baltimore Sun reported about the Maryland School Board introducing a new five-star rating system to assess the quality of the state's public schools and help parents measure their academic performance.  The rating system is based on numerous factors, including surveys of parents and teachers and the rate of absenteeism.