Shocking violence in schools

THE number of assaults by schoolchildren on fellow students in Queensland schools has risen alarmingly in the past year, as the State Government grapples with how to improve dismal literacy and numeracy standards.

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Queensland police statistics obtained exclusively by The Sunday Mail reveal that violence in schools – both state and private – is at its highest ever, with girls among the worst offenders.

In the year to March, 383 high school students were arrested for assault, including 111 girls – an increase of more than 150 per cent. Assaults by boys rose 76 per cent.

Even primary schools were riddled with violence, with more than 130 attacks reported to police.

Last month a six-year-old Year 1 student was suspended for taking a knife to the Southport State School and threatening to stab another classmate after an argument over a paper aeroplane.

The latest figures come just days after a 17-year-old Gold Coast schoolgirl was jailed for a month for bashing a 15-year-old fellow student. The attack at Elanora State High School was captured on video and posted on MySpace. The girl's lawyers have appealed.

Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said there had been a "worrying" increase in school-related assaults, including fights outside school hours and grounds.

"We are seeing more assaults (in schools), seeing more children coming into schools with weapons," he said.

He said youths were copying adult behaviour of using technology to film, stage or incite fights.

He said it was very worrying that people were starting to stage fights so they could film them. "I think that is occurring in schools and that's an area we need to work on."

Police also have evidence that some school-related violence is linked to youth gangs with students as members, he said.

The gangs were involved in petty street crime, he said, and police have launched a project to collect intelligence on gangs with members as young as 10.

Mr Stewart said police were working with the Youth Violence Taskforce, government and community agencies in tackling youth violence.

Education figures show 2870 girls were among 16,694 state primary and high school students suspended for "physical misconduct" in the past financial year.

Physical misconduct can include violent assaults, poking and pushing students and staff. In 90 per cent of cases, the students were suspended for one to five days.

An Education Department spokeswoman said state schools had a "responsible behaviour plan" outlining expected standards and consequences of behaviour.

Queensland Teachers Union president Steve Ryan said the increase in arrests for violence was a reflection of what has happening in society.

source: www.news.com.au