|
|
SUNDAY , 19 NOVEMBER 2006
|
|
By RUTH HILL
Schools are spending thousands of dollars on surveillance cameras and security guards to stamp out bullying, petty crime, drug use and vandalism. And the investment is paying off as schools report students feeling safer, and adrop in the number of exclusions of badly behaved pupils. Delegates at the recent Post Primary Teachers' Association conference told of instances where students had brought guns and knives to school, had thrown desks out of windows and had threatened teachers with rape. Many schools had beefed up security with high fences, security guards, video surveillance and strict visitor identification, and teachers were also more security conscious, carrying phones in class.
|
|
At Paraparaumu College, on Wellington's Kapiti Coast, 84 video cameras have been installed over the past three years, at a cost of up to $80,000. "We've gradually added more in corridors, classrooms and around the grounds as we've discovered more blind spots," principal Richard Campbell said. He said most students were supportive of the surveillance, which had reduced bullying. "The kids know that if they feel threatened, all they have to do is to go into anarea that's being monitored."
|
|
Wainuiomata High School principal Rob Mill said the number of suspensions and exclusions had decreased dramatically with the installation of 40 cameras throughout the school a year ago. In 2005, Wainuiomata High issued 38 suspensions and excluded 15 students - mainly for drug offences, disobedience or violence. A further 136 were placed on temporary stand- down for bad behaviour. This year, four students had been excluded. Mill said he had been reluctant to install surveillance cameras, "but unfortunately there is a small minority of people who will insist on causing havoc".
|
|
In Auckland, Penrose High School principal Iva Ropati said the school increased protection after several security scares last year, including the arrests of armed gang members outside the gate. The school now employs a full- time security guard and has issued all duty teachers with walkie-talkies. As part of next year's $15 million refurbishment, the school will install surveillance cameras and fencing. "We are completely locking down the school," Ropati said. "It makes me absolutely furious that we have to spend money on this instead of education, but we have to keep our students safe and we will spend whatever it takes to do that."
|
|
Unruly students putting teachers at risk
26 September 2006
Deteriorating student behaviour is putting staff at risk and the Government needs to act, says the Post Primary Teachers Association.
PPTA president Debbie Te Whaiti told the association's annual conference today deteriorating student behaviour had become a health and safety issue for many teachers, who saw it as one of the major deterrents to recruiting and retaining quality staff.
"How many professionals work daily in an environment where it is not unusual to be told to 'eff off you dumb cow' or threatened with "I know where you live you ******," Ms Te Whaiti said.
"I hear disturbing stories everywhere I go, with some teachers reluctant to do duty or even frequent corridors for fear of pushing and shoving and intimidation from students. "I think we are at the point where we need to take a really hard look at what many teachers are putting up with in their daily working lives."
The PPTA's conference paper Managing Challenging Student Behaviour recommended the Government dramatically improve resourcing for schools to deal with difficult students.
It proposed funding programmes such as restorative justice, peer mediation, and alternative education. Guidelines should be developed for schools to use when teachers felt unsafe and all other avenues have been exhausted. "We cannot exclude all difficult students from our schools, but schools cannot serve these students well without the assistance and funding to address the range of educational, mental and medical conditions these students face," Ms Te Waiti said.
Nearly 50 per cent of teachers surveyed by the PPTA said the problem was worse than a year ago. Just 10 per cent said it was better, she said. "They say they are spending more time on motivation, control and dealing with challenges to authority."
We have permission from the follow AlphaNZ educational customers to publish their story.....
Paraparaumu College - click here
Wainuiomata High School
Wellington College
Taita College
St Patrick's College, Wellington
Hutt Valley High School
Tawa College
Bishop Viard College
Wellington High School
Horowhenua College
Aotea College
Titahi Bay Intermediate School
|
|
