Principal schools parents over ‘dangerous’ drop-off and pick-up tactics at school gate
Parents misbehaving at school drop off and pick up at an East Bentleigh school have been taught a lesson by the ticked off principal after being caught out on camera and given a stern dressing down.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education . Followed categories will be added to My News.
An East Bentleigh school principal is “kissed off” about the actions of parents who continue to do the wrong thing at the school gate.
Parents misbehaving at school drop off and pick up at the southeastern school have been given a lesson by the principal after being caught out on camera.
As many primary schools around Melbourne continue to grow, trying to manage the morning and afternoon peaks is becoming a headache for school leaders, with regular calls for care and consideration for other road users and neighbours.
Late last term, East Bentleigh Primary School principal Maria Shearn told families she had photographic evidence of parents behaving badly despite repeated requests to do the right thing.
“I have a number of photos which clearly show me who these parents are and I will be speaking to them personally about how we can support them in making better, safer choices in the future,” she said at the end of the term.
It was unclear who took the photographs.
A veteran at the school, Ms Shearn used the newsletter to outline her frustrations, adding that most parents had taken on-board her emails calling out unsafe practices.
“Thank you to those parents who responded so positively to my email last week in regards to the unsafe practices in cars at these times,” she said.
The school has a drop off area and a “Kiss & Go” area where parents can stay for two minutes to drop off children.
“A reminder too, that if you use the Kiss & Go area to drop off your child remember there is a 2 minute limit and that you may not leave your car at any time,” she said.
“It is also not an area to wait for your child at the end of the day. The efficient use of this area relies on the flow of cars moving through it and becomes dangerous when used incorrectly as it has done far too often lately by an inconsiderate few.”
Ms Shearn’s comments come as families attending schools in the Glen Eira municipality have hit out at what they see as ticket happy inspectors preying on frazzled parents at drop off and pick up.
But, the council said that more often than not it attended schools at the request of school staff and other parents concerned about people not following the rules and endangering the safety of children.
Over some weeks the East Bentleigh principal has told families that if they had to park, even for 10 minutes, they needed to park in side streets but be courteous to local residents.
She said there had been a spate of complaints from neighbours about “some pretty selfish and thoughtless practices such as parking across residents’ driveways”.
“I encourage you to think how you would feel if it happened to you,” she said.
She stressed that most parents did the right thing but there were others who did unsafe U turns, parked in the school carpark and across driveways.
At nearby Coatesville Primary School a parent is furious about being fined for allegedly stopping in a no stopping area.
Via social media she has vented her anger and has recruited others who feel they have been hard done by and have received fines that they think were not warranted.
The fine was issued for “stopping contrary to the non-stopping sign” and the council said it stood by the fine.
But the parent, Keren Barak, plans to have her day in court, disputing the council’s version of events.
She said she would like the council to attend the school and tell parents what they had done wrong.
She conceded it was hectic at the school which has 850 children with many parents trying to use the six Kiss & Go carparks.
“I will fight it. $161 is a lot of money,” she said.
She said council officers should not be able to fine parents in a clandestine operation. She was fined on June 12 and received the fine in the mail two weeks later.
Ms Barak said she was told that officers don’t issue fines on the spot because of fears that people will become aggressive.
“I am a very calm and relaxed mum and all I want is an explanation,” she said.
She said that about 30 other parents had been fined at the school and she had heard from 30 other parents at nearby schools.
The council said there were no photographs of the infringement and the “primary source of evidence in relation to such offences are the notes taken by the issuing officer at the time they observe the offence being committed”.
At Blackburn Primary School families must display a sheet bearing their family name on the front dashboard/windscreen so that staff monitoring what they call Kiss & Drop can identify the family each time they use it.
The school has rules around the drop off including that children must exit on the left of the car and that any bags or instruments must be carried inside the car and not the boot, making drop off easier.
MORE: FOOTY CARD DEALS CAUSING GRIEF
VCE STUDENTS URGED TO GET FLU JAB
WHAT'S ON THE SCHOOL BANNED LIST
“Once children are out of the car they will be asked to keep moving to the footpath, so please relay messages before drop off not after they have exited the car,” the school said.
“Remind students to be on time for after school pick up. You will be asked to complete a lap of the car park and rejoin the queue if your child is not ready. Please do not park in the area.”
RACV senior engineer of roads and traffic Emily McLean said getting kids to and from school was often stressful so leaving ample time to avoid rushing was a good move.
“It’s important that drivers obey the road rules around schools to ensure the safety of all children,” she said.
“School drop off and pick up times can be stressful, and children can sometimes be difficult to see or might unexpectedly step out into traffic.
“Small changes like parking down the street or at a nearby park and walking a short distance to school helps reduce congestion and has the added benefit of exercise for parents and kids.
“Swapping driving for walking or riding, even if it’s only one day per week, can have a big impact on traffic congestion at the school gate.”
Which unis give you best odds of finding a job?
Nine out of 10 graduates from Victorian universities are working full-time three years after finishing their studies. See which are the top-ranked institutions for higher education in Victoria.
Your guide to schools around Dandenong
As more people move to Dandenong and Endeavour Hills, the need for secondary schools in the area grows. Here’s a comprehensive guide of each school you can send your child to, including the VCE scores, subjects and public transport options.