Allowing suspended students greater powers to appeal against the disciplinary measure is the wrong move amid a teacher shortage, according to a principal who has spoken out against the planned changes.
At present, appeals for a chief executive’s review of a principal’s decision are only allowed on long suspensions of between 11 and 20 days. Oakey State High School principal Danny Keenan speaking on behalf of the school’s leadership team via video link during a public hearing of the Education, Employment, Training and Skills Committee.
“Every moment we spend justifying smaller suspensions will take us away from our core business of shaping good people with good opportunities.“People are leaving teaching in droves and in part it is because of the disrespectful actions of a minority of students and the abuse levelled at schools by a small but vocal group of parents and carers.