Violent and abusive parents face new school code of conduct

Every student in a NSW state school will take home a letter warning their parents that principals will call the police if they are violent, abusive, or use emails and social media to intimidate teachers.

• More parents opting for homeschooling
• $7m paid out to bullied teachers and students

Parents at all NSW state schools will be issued a “code of conduct” at the start of the new school year warning police may be called if they threaten or intimidate principals or teachers, including by bombarding with emails or stalking on social media.

Principals say school staff are now being victimised like nurses and paramedics and hope the code will focus attention on the risks they face.

The code comes after a spike in harrowing episodes at public schools across the state this year, in which parents have thrown furniture across the classroom, walked into classrooms unannounced during lessons demanding to speak to the teacher, and threatened principals online.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes hopes the new charter makes parents think twice about abusing teachers. Picture: Chris Pavlich

MORE FROM JACK MORPHET

PARAPLEGIC SAM BLOOM’S BID TO BE SURFING CHAMPION

HOW JACKIE O FORCED A REPRINT OF ROXY JACENKO’S NEW BOOK

The NSW Government’s new School Community Charter — a copy of which will go home in all 2019 ­enrolment packs — warns schools will crack down on “unacceptable and offensive behaviour” by parents.

“Steps will be taken to address this behaviour that may include restricting contact with the school community or, in more serious cases, referral to NSW Police,” the charter states.

It states unacceptable behaviour may ­include “violence, threatening gestures or physical proximity … the use of obscenities, making sexist, racist or derogatory comments or using a rude tone.”

The code also warns about ­“inappropriate and time-wasting communication”.

The new School Community Charter will be issued to parents at all NSW state schools.

At one western Sydney primary school a parent emailed teachers 20 times a day asking where their child was sitting and which classmates they were talking to.

Principals are more than eight times more likely to be physically ­assaulted than the general population and more than five times more likely to be threatened with violence, ­according to the latest figures from Australian Catholic University.

Head of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council Chris Presland said teachers are being verbally and physically abused. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“School teachers and support staff are absolutely verbally and physically assaulted, not to mention the enormous amount of Facebook slagging and telephone abuse,” the head of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council, Chris Presland said.

“There’s a growing percentage of people in our society whose behaviour is disgraceful and schools are at the pointy end of that aggression.

“Teachers are bearing the brunt of aggression in the same way nurses and paramedics do.”

At an inner-west Sydney primary school a mother, whose custody had been revoked by a court, physically abused school office staff for not allowing the child to leave with her.

Principals have the power to ban parents from school grounds under the Inclosed Lands Protection Act but the paperwork demands principals to note in detail all offending behaviour and issue a warning letter first.

The charter isn’t backed by any new protection measures for schools, but Education Minister Rob Stokes hopes it will make parents think twice before taking aim at teachers.

Originally published as Violent and abusive parents face new school code of conduct