Yarra Ranges Council bans Mt Dandenong Primary School crossing supervisor from high-fiving students

An online petition to reinstate popular crossing supervisor John Goulden’s high-fiving tradition has gained over 1000 signatures overnight.

Hundreds of Victorians have rallied behind beloved crossing supervisor John Goulden after he was banned from high-fiving school kids, with a petition against the intervention surpassing the 1000 signature goal overnight.

Yarra Ranges Council cautioned lollipop man Mr Goulden - who monitors a crossing outside Mt Dandenong Primary School during drop-off and pick-up - from initiating the gesture last week.

The warning was dished out after a single parent complained about the award-winning supervisor allegedly high-fiving children as they were being driven past him on Farndons Rd, Mount Dandenong.

Crossing Supervisor John Goulden has been banned from giving high-fives to children. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Goulden at the crossing near Mt Dandenong Primary School with students Brandon, 11, Ricky 13 and Sienna 8. Picture: Jason Edwards

News of the ban not only sparked uproar within the school community, but also caught the attention of other Victorians as well as Australians interstate after parent Rohan Bradley created a petition to bring back the high-five.

By 10am Thursday, the change.org petition had gained almost 1200 signatures, with more than 100 people also issuing words of support for Mr Goulden.

Mr Bradley told the Herald Sun he plans on taking this petition to council, in a bid to reverse their decision to ban Mr Goulden from high-fiving students as their parents drive past him in cars.

“I was very happy to get behind this and encourage people to speak up because (the ban) felt like an injustice to the community,” he said.

Mr Bradley’s daughter Florence also took a paper version of the petition to school, which gauged 45 signatures from students and staff in addition to the signatures online.

“I saw this as an opportunity to teach my daughter it’s important to stand up for what is right,” Mr Bradley said.

Mr Goulden has been told he can’t speak to the media. Picture: Facebook

Another parent, who is backing Mr Goulden, said the crossing supervisor’s high-fives “is what makes our school feel like the beautiful little country school it is”.

“(John) brings a smile to the whole community. The council needs to show a bit of heart and common sense.”

The council stepped in to “remind” the award-winning crossing supervisor about the “expectations of the role”, which included its policies surrounding working with children.

After the council dished out its warning, Mr Goulden was told he couldn’t speak to the media.

Mr Bradley said the parent’s complaint left Mr Goulden feeling “quite hurt”.

“When we rolled down the window to give John a high-five, he said ‘I’m not allowed to give kids a high-five anymore or call anyone love or sweetheart. I’m in trouble for being too friendly’,” Mr Bradley said.

“I felt really distressed because I saw the look on my daughter’s face … immediately when I got home I created the online petition to gauge other parents’ support (to bring back the high-five).”

Another parent, Jeff, said Mr Goulden had an “immeasurable impact” on the school.

“He has such a magnificent presence at the school,” he said.

“John tries to brighten up the lives of the kids, it’s unfathomable it’s come to this.”

Not all Mount Dandenong Primary School parents are happy about the high-five ban.

A Yarra Ranges Council spokeswoman said the parent who made the complaint was worried Mr Goulden’s high-fives were jeopardising student safety.

“School crossing supervisors must comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards that details guidance on appropriate behaviour and conduct,” she said.

According to internal council policies and Victorian Standards, it is unacceptable for crossing supervisors to “exhibit behaviours with young people which may be construed as unnecessarily physical” and “initiate unnecessary physical contact with children or young people”.

“Council has reminded the contractor who is currently supervising children at the Mount Dandenong Primary School of expectations of the role regarding interactions with children,” the spokeswoman said.

“If the high-five is undertaken in accordance with Council’s Code of Conduct, considering the safety and supervision of all children on the crossing, the traffic on the road and is initiated by the child, then they are not universally banned.”

Earlier this year, School Crossings Victoria Inc crowned Mr Goulden as the “Region 4 School Crossing Supervisor of the Year” for his outstanding contributions to community safety.

Originally published as Yarra Ranges Council bans Mt Dandenong Primary School crossing supervisor from high-fiving students