Whyalla high school parent says teachers need clarity on how to handle the violence

Pastoral programs are better for tackling violence than security guards, the education union says, after more shocking video emerged.

“Big, burly security guards” patrolling SA schools would not solve schoolyard violence, the head of the state’s education union says, after a series of shocking videos emerged.

Australian Education Union SA Branch president Andrew Gohl said “generally speaking” security was not needed at schools.

“It’s not the environment we want to be promoting,” Mr Gohl said.

“Schools have policies and procedures in place to effectively deal with that kind of behaviour.

“We need to be ensuring that students are enrolled in pastoral care programs to gain skills on how to deal with conflict in a peaceful way for a peaceful resolution.

“I would much rather the money, rather than being spent on big, burly security guards, to be spent on programs for students to obtain skills to deal with those emotions.”

It comes after a parent of a Whyalla Secondary College student called for more open conversations about how staff can deal with students in the wake of further violence at the ‘super school’.

David Hansen and his son Tyree, 12, arrive at the school Thursday morning. Picture: Dean Martin

David Hansen dropped his 12-year-old son Tyree Hansen at the gates today to continue his year eight learning in the midst of the school’s ongoing conflict among students, which came to light when video emerged of a teenage girl being assaulted in the schoolyard.

On Wednesday a second video began circulating on social media of two young boys fighting in the school’s corridors.

It came just hours after a 15-year-old girl was arrested and charged after she allegedly attacked another student with “kicks and stomps” on Monday.

Mr Hansen said the school had a difficult challenge to contain the violence.

“What are the staff meant to do? How do you stop the children when they are fighting, there’s no real clarity on whether staff can physically involve themselves with students,” he said.

Mr Hansen said staff and parents need to work together on the issue. On Wednesday, several other parents called for action, saying children were “terrified” to go to school amid escalating violence.

“It needs to be expressed between the parties what the acceptable response is from a teacher,” he said.

Students return after a horrific bashing at Whyalla Secondary School was displayed on social media. Picture: Dean Martin

“I don’t think they know what they are allowed to do to handle a violent situation.”

He said the use of technology had to be seen as a positive.

“Back in my day, if there was a fight, a teacher would come over and all the students in the vicinity were in trouble,” he said.

“At least with these videos they can get to the bottom of the issue and the children directly involved can be dealt with.”

More than 1500 students returned to class on Thursday with some expecting the violence to continue on school grounds.

One student said it was “difficult to keep up” with the different fights among fellow students.

“There’s fights every week. It’s really sad what happened to that girl because there just wasn’t many people around to help her,” she said.

“There used to be fights at the other schools, but there’s just more here because there’s more students.”

She said there was even more violence during the first term.

It comes as Education Minister Blair Boyer said he was working swiftly to provide the education facility with more support.

“An Employee Assistance Program is happening at the school today to talk to staff who are obviously pretty traumatised as well,” he said.

“Longer term social work support at the school is being considered and the on-site counsellors are doing wellbeing check-ins and check-ups with students.”

But Mr Boyer said security guards would not be implemented at the school.

A police spokesman said officers worked closely with the Department for Education, the local school community and students on issues involving violence, bullying, harassment and antisocial behaviour.

Acting Officer in Charge, Eyre and Western Local Service Area, Inspector Mark Roberts said local crime prevention section officers were meeting with the Whyalla school and students to deliver presentations and talks on these issues and local police were actively engaging with the local community.

City of Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin said the council’s thoughts were with the victims of the attacks and it would continue to work with community leaders and the school to improve safety.
“Community safety is our utmost priority, so we are encouraged by the steps being taken to deal with the current situation, including charging and suspending the perpetrator; providing adequate support to the victim, their family and other students and staff; as well as intervention by the Minister for Education,” Mayor McLaughlin said.