Research into the working conditions of West Australian teachers. - Bad Apple Bullies Historical link preserved from the original page.
A teacher's story: Victoria
How many West Australia teachers are being assaulted at school?
There were 464 physical assaults against staff in West Australian public schools during 2011. Historical link preserved from the original page.
There were 527 physical assaults against staff during 2012.
The number of physical assaults against staff in West Australian public schools had already reached 555 to October 2013. Historical link preserved from the original page.
State School Teachers Union president Anne Gisborne said schools were increasingly dealing with violence from young students.
Student, 7, hits relief teacher in assault at Perth school, Yasmine Phillips, education reporter, The Sunday Times, 9 November 2013 http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/student-7-hits-relief-teacher-in-assault-at-perth-school/story-fnii5thn-1226756493146 Historical link preserved from the original page.
Less than half of the 2012 West Australian graduate teachers got jobs. Historical link preserved from the original page.
Less than half the newly-qualified teachers who applied for places in West Australian public schools this year have been offered jobs. Historical link preserved from the original page.
The WA Education Department said that as of 2 February 2013 - the first day of the school year - 430 graduates were appointed out of 1156 who applied.
Just two teaching jobs had not been filled - a vacancy for a maths teacher in the country and for a part-time science teacher in the city.
Not everyone gets placed at the beginning of the year, " said Education Minister Liz Constable, "But I think all graduates can be confident that they have a good chance of a position in a public school during the year.
It is a moving and continuing process across the year as people retire and resign.
A department spokeswoman said there were about 780 new graduates without jobs at the same time in 2012.
But by the end of 2012, 1028 graduates out of the 1266 who applied had positions in public schools.
Half of new teachers miss out on jobs, Bethany Hiatt, The West Australian: 3 February 2011: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/8765241/half-of-new-teachers-miss-out-on-jobs/ Historical link preserved from the original page.
How many problem parents and former students have been banned from West Australian school grounds during the past four years? Historical link preserved from the original page.
180 prohibition orders have been issued by West Australian public schools during the four years 2007-2011, mostly for threatening and violent behaviour. Historical link preserved from the original page.
Problem parents are being banned from school grounds at a rate of more than one a fortnight.
And former students are increasingly returning to the schoolyard to terrorise teachers and pupils in some cases selling drugs or alcohol.
So far during 2011 -
- 25 public schools have banned 40 people from their grounds for up to 60 days. ( 19 parents, 15 former students, two family members and four others.)
- Most were banned for threats to staff (18) and students (5).
- But six have been issued with prohibition orders for violence to staff (3), students (2) or parents (1); and
- Four former students were banned for selling drugs or alcohol.
In 2010, 52 people were issued with prohibition orders, including 39 parents.
In 2009, 56 people were banned, including 36 parents.
Schools ban agro parents, Yasmine Phillips, Education Reporter, The Sunday Times, 24 September 2011: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/schools-ban-agro-parents/story-e6frg15c-1226145299141 Historical link preserved from the original page.
How many West Australian students have to be suspended for verbal abuse, swearing, name-calling and harassing their classmates? Historical link preserved from the original page.
In 2006 590 West Australian students were suspended over verbal taunts or swearing. Historical link preserved from the original page.
In 2010 951 were suspended.
This represents a rise of 60 per cent in five years.
Almost 45 per cent of the incidents involved primary school students.
Students were suspended for swearing, name-calling, verbally abusing and harassing their classmates.
Foul mouths in our schools, Yasmine Phillips, The Sunday Times, 20 August 2011: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/foul-mouths-in-our-schools/story-e6frg13u-1226118692423 Historical link preserved from the original page.
How many West Australian high school students are being suspended for illegal substance abuse? Historical link preserved from the original page.
531 suspension notices, 95 per cent of them in WA high schools, were issued for illegal substance offences, mostly involving cannabis, during the five years to August 2011.
A further 401 were handed out for substance misuse, including cigarettes, alcohol and prescribed medicines.
More than 90 per cent were among WA secondary students.
Foul mouths in our schools, Yasmine Phillips, The Sunday Times, 20 August 2011: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/foul-mouths-in-our-schools/story-e6frg13u-1226118692423 Historical link preserved from the original page.
How many teachers are being assaulted in WA schools?
A revamped online reporting system recorded 856 physical assaults on West Australian teachers by students between May 2009 and December 2010 Historical link preserved from the original page.
133 of these attacks were reported to police.
The statistics did not distinguish between serious and minor assaults.
Education Minister Liz Constable said many of the incidents were at the lower end of the scale.
Editor's note: Lower end of the scale?
I find this comment by the WA Education Minister disgraceful.
Any assault on a teacher by a student is totally unacceptable.
And why were so few of these assaults reported to the police?
Shadow education minister Ben Wyatt said it was a concern that Liz Constable could not tell the Opposition how many convictions had resulted from the assaults because the Government had not followed the cases up with police.
Dozens of assaults on teachers each month, Daniel Emerson, The West Australian, 23 March 2011: Historical link preserved from the original page.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/9056864/dozens-of-assaults-on-teachers-each-month/ Historical link preserved from the original page.
How much workers compensation do WA teachers receive when they are assaulted by students and their parents?
Latest statistics from the West Australian Education Department show 154 workers compensation claims were lodged by teachers in WA public schools as victims of assaults in 2009 and 2010. Historical link preserved from the original page.
In 2009, public school teachers were paid $714,754 for workers compensation claims relating to assaults.
In 2010, $282,665 was paid out for 69 assaults on teachers.
Mr Axworthy said costs associated with 2010 claims were lower at that point in time because there were fewer claims and many claims had not been finalised.
In 2009, 12 WA schools recorded two or more assaults against teachers, including four education support schools.
In 2010, 10 WA schools recorded two or more assaults against teachers, including six education support centres.
In most cases, teachers were "struck, bitten, kicked, punched, pushed, headbutted or spat on" by students.
Two WA parents attacked teachers in 2009.
No WA parents attacked teachers in 2010.
Scarred teachers paid $1m compo, Yasmine Phillips, Education Reporter, The Sunday Times, 29 January 2011: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/scarred-teachers-paid-1m-compo/story-e6frg13u-1225996668649 Historical link preserved from the original page.
How often are WA school staff being physically assaulted or verbally assaulted or threatened by students and their parents?
WA school staff, including teachers, principals and cleaners, had been physically assaulted 275 times by WA students and eight times by parents during terms two and three 2009.
Staff were also verbally assaulted or threatened 37 times by parents in the same time frame.
"The staggering number of assaults on teachers is unacceptable, " opposition education spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said.
An assault rate of almost 300 assaults in just two school terms is despicable.
It is alarming that the Education Department has no record of police prosecutions for assaults against teachers.
280 assaults at WA schools in two terms, Yasmine Phillips, PerthNow, 26 November 2009: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/assaults-at-wa-schools-in-two-terms/story-e6frg15c-1225804034872 Historical link preserved from the original page.