Schools grapple with misbehaving children in online learning environments
Students are being warned even though they might be now learning at home, they can still be “sent” to the principal’s office if they misbehave in online classes.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Students are being warned even though they might be now learning in their bedrooms, they can still be “sent” to the principal’s office or have their video conferencing microphone silenced if they misbehave in online classes.
The warning comes after university students who engaged in “inappropriate” online behaviour were told they face expulsion from their course.
President of the NSW Secondary Principals Council Craig Petersen told The Daily Telegraph principals around the state were turning to videoconferencing appointments to give naughty students a talking to.
“I am aware of some schools where they’re looking at making video referrals to the deputy principal,” he said.
He warned students that even though they were no longer physically present, they were still responsible for their behaviour on virtual learning platforms.
“If you think you’re going to come online and be abusive to the teacher from the safety of your bedroom, well you better think again because the standards apply and we will still be making calls to mum and dad,” he said.
Follow the latest news on COVID-19 on our LIVE BLOG
“It is not just if (students) are misbehaving, if you’re falling behind, if we’re noticing you haven’t logged on in the past three days we’re going to be making some follow-up calls.”
An Education Department spokesman said teachers were monitoring student progress and would follow up with the parents of students who fell behind.
“Principals, teachers and/or home school liaison officers will contact home to assist where issues persist with the completion of school work,” the spokesman said.
At Sydney Secondary College, Balmain Campus, students who behave negatively during video conference calls would have their microphone muted — but said students’ access to learning would not be restricted.
“If in future a student behaves negatively, teachers can and will take action, which may include restricting access to communicate (including) silencing microphones,” he said in a statement.
At the University of Technology, Sydney deputy vice-chancellor Shirley Alexander said numerous students had engaged in inappropriate behaviour.
“We will be monitoring inappropriate behaviour and initiating misconduct proceedings where applicable, with consequences up to and including exclusion from your course if warranted,” an email sent last week said.
MORE NEWS
Just 16 reasons will get you out of $11k fine in NSW
Virus numbers creep up in regional NSW
“Don’t post or share (even privately) inappropriate material. Nothing is truly private online.”
A UTS spokesman would not say how many cases the university were investigating but confirmed students could be expelled from their course.
“There have been a small number of cases of inappropriate behaviour, which the university is investigating in line with its normal student misconduct policies,” he said.