Weapons suspensions on rise at schools

MORE than 80 suspensions for violence with weapons or “objects” are handed out every week in Queensland state schools.

As the State Government vowed to crack down on student violence and bullying yesterday, figures obtained by The Courier-Mail highlighted the extent of the problem.

The figures, released by the Education Department, show more than 10,000 suspensions were handed out to state school students for “physical misconduct involving an object” over the past three financial years.

More than two students were expelled every school week last financial year for the violation, with 89 recorded, up from 65 in 2003 to 2004.

Yesterday, Premier Anna Bligh announced state, Catholic and independent school representatives would form the Queensland Schools Alliance Against Violence, which will make recommendations on the best ways to stamp out the growing problem.

It follows a recommendation from Professor Ken Rigby in his report on how the state is dealing with bullying, and the alleged fatal stabbing of 12-year-old Elliott Fletcher in his school’s toilets at Shorncliffe last week.

Premier Anna Bligh acknowledged there was an “alarming culture of school violence”, with the alliance set to address it.

But Opposition deputy leader Lawrence Springborg accused the Government of “more talk and no action”, saying it had established a youth violence taskforce in 2006 and claimed to have implemented its recommendations in 2009.

Education figures show there were 2797 short suspensions for “physical misconduct involving an object” in state schools last year, down from a six-year high in 2007 to 2008 when 3064 were recorded.

But long suspensions – between six and 20 days – have climbed annually over the past six years in the category, reaching 456 in 2008 to 2009.

Education deputy director-general Lyn McKenzie said the type of objects used in the suspensions could include pencils and sticks, as well as knives. Replica guns have also been wielded by students.

Ms Bligh said while bullying had always existed, the playground no longer ended at the school fence and had been radically changed by technology, including social networking sites.

She said the alliance would focus on preventative measures but also look at security and violent incidents in schools, including the use of weapons.

The group is expected to meet within the weeks and start delivering recommendations within months.

Source: Courier Mail