[Offtopic] Guidelines on schoolyard brawls

[victor rajewski]

Having just read The Age's report on the same story,
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/11/1186530679029.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
I am baffled/bemused by the report that no teacher was on yard duty
due to an administrative error. If it was a matter of a teacher who
missed their yard duty, that teacher would be hauled over the coals.
But if the admin stuffs up...

vik

On 8/12/07, stephen at melbpc.org.au <stephen at melbpc.org.au> wrote:
> "Teachers call for guidelines on schoolyard brawls"
>
> Posted (on ABC website) 5 hours 30 minutes ago
> <http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/12/2002735.htm>
>
> Victorian teachers are calling for official guidelines and training in how
> to respond to schoolyard fights.
>
> The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has reviewed the
> actions of a teacher who refused to step in during a brawl at a high
> school, south-east of Melbourne.
>
> VCAT found there are no set rules requiring teachers to physically
> intervene and that there appears to be no clear guidelines to advise
> teachers on appropriate actions.
>
> Australian Teachers Union (ATU) spokeswoman Mary Bluett says teachers are
> concerned about the threat of litigation.
>
> "When you are in a situation where a fight erupts, you are in two minds,"
> she said.
>
> "Do I go in and physically touch a student and open myself up perhaps to
> legal action, or is the bigger issue my duty of care to prevent injury to
> that student."
>
> The state's regulatory body, the Victorian Institute of Teaching, says it
> will examine VCAT's comments at its next executive meeting.
>
> It says each school sets out its expectations of teachers in their
> employment contracts.
>
> --
> Cheers, people
> Stephen Loosley
> Victoria, Australia
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