THE LAW TAKES A STAND AGAINST BULLIES

March 10th, 2010

EDUCATION authorities have been given unprecedented access to police and juvenile justice files on the state’s most violent students and worst bullies in a bid to evict them from schools.

New powers have been granted to teachers by the State Government to build dossiers on violent students that will follow them to any school in the state.

The Director-General of the Department of Education has the power to direct students to leave schools for new placements and the department said the new guidelines were needed because schools could be prosecuted if they failed to act.

Bullies who verbally abuse others, make cruel posts on the internet, harass other students by text or circulate inappropriate photos have also been included in the new guidelines.

The new rules released yesterday in The NSW Government Gazette state: “It recognises that harm can be caused by the accumulating effect of many of these behaviours over time.”

Student behaviour listed as being covered by the guidelines includes those who punch, kick, bite, bring guns or knives to schools, grab other students’ breasts or buttocks or attack animals at school.

Parents will be alerted if their child is considered a risk to the safety of students or teachers.

And if a parent consents, police and other agencies will be contacted by the department.

Published by: The Daily Telegraph
Written by: Gemma Jones
Actual Article: Click here