https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/education/nsw-teachers-demand-more-backup-as-s...Students are increasingly being booted out of class with new figures showing public school suspensions have soared in the past four years.
Physical violence or aggressive behaviour were the two biggest reasons a student was suspended from a school, with others thrown out for engaging in criminal behaviour, possessing an illegal substance or prohibited weapon, or serious misbehaviour.
While schools in the far west of the state experienced a decline in suspensions, every other region from more privileged districts to lower socio-economic areas recorded increases over the period, according to NSW Department of Education figures.
The regional breakdown was released to state parliament in response to questions from Greens MLC David Shoebridge, who has accused schools of choosing the “easy” way out when dealing with troubled students.
It also comes amid a department review into school discipline, with the NSW Teachers Federation demanding it include a greater emphasis on early intervention with students displaying behavioural issues.
Schools in Sydney’s southwest topped the city list with 11,392 suspensions while the Hunter-New England region led the bush with 15,185.
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In Northern Sydney there were 1798 suspensions, 408 more than four years ago while southeastern Sydney recorded 2672, rising by 421.
Over in the far west of the state the number of suspension dropped by 61 to 579 last year.
In total, there were 74,458 suspensions issued last year, representing an almost 9000 increase in the four-year period.
Students who displayed aggressive behaviour or continued to be disobedient were given “short” suspensions of up to four days, while other categories such as criminal behaviour at school attracted a longer absence of up 20 days.
Aggressive behaviour resulted in almost 35,000 suspensions last year, an increase of more than 7000 over the four years.
Continued disobedience was the next biggest reason for students to be suspended, although the number issued dropped last year.
Among the long suspensions, the category with the biggest jump was “physical violence”, with 8812 recorded last year — up by 1429 over the four years.
The next biggest jump in suspensions was for “persistent or serious misbehaviour” with 8069 ordered last year, up by 512.
There were 1277 suspensions issued to students who engaged in criminal behaviour in relation to the school, while possessing or using an illegal substance led to 1085 orders.
Students are still bringing guns, knives or prohibited weapons to school with 770 suspensions ordered, up by 67, with another 272 suspensions in relation to an implement being used as a weapon.
Mr Shoebridge said the sheer volume of suspensions was concerning.“There is a real concern that some schools are using suspensions as the easy way out when there are real underlying educational issues that need to be addressed,” he said.
“In the long run, misusing suspensions doesn’t help either teachers or kids.”
The teachers union has called for additional funding and specialist teacher support for students with additional needs, given children with disabilities accounted for a large number of suspensions.
I wonder what penalties the parents are paying?????...after all their responsibility lasts until they are 18..
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