Hotline for parents
Great news today re 'back to school' for Metro F-10 Students from Friday 11 June. Don't forget there's a DET hotline if you have questions your school is unable to answer.
Ask questions about COVID-19 and education settings by calling 1800 338 663.
Call 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). If you need an interpreter, call 131 450 first.
Schools return to on-site learning from Friday
Acting Premier James Merlino has announced significant changes to the Covid restrictions, to come into force midnight Thursday.
Among the changes: schools will return to on-site learning from Friday.
Mr Merlino is quoted in today's Age as saying, "All students will be back at school on Friday, in terms of the government system. There is no pupil-free day on Friday, students will be back at school."
Protection of School Communities Bill: PV Statement
This Statement sets out Parents Victoria's concerns about the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Protection of School Communities) Bill 2021, introduced into the Victorian Parliament on 4 May, The proposed legislation would give school Principals the power to ban parents from school grounds if their behaviour is regarded as “harmful, threatening or abusive”. See the announcement of the Bill from Education Minister James Merlino.
We fully understand and appreciate concerns for the safety of all school staff. Threats of violence are unacceptable in schools, any time, anywhere, from anyone.
However we have many questions and concerns about this proposed legislation, for example:
- How is it determined what is “harmful, threatening or abusive” and what is not?
- How will the relationships be set right once the order has expired?
- Who will assist vulnerable families to have the difficult conversations with schools?
- Why legislation specifically for schools? Other organisations, agencies and departments have to work with current laws to deal with conflict situations, e.g. trespass orders and intervention orders. If they are not working, then that's what needs to be strengthened for the protection of everyone.
We note that ‘Building Pride and Confidence in our School Communities’ is a target focus of the Education State. These punitive steps to provide powers via this Bill, are counter-productive, divisive and destructive to community cohesion.
Covid update 3 June
The Education Department has sent an update on the Covid situation to schools.
The update covers changes to the restrictios in rural and regional Victoria, and in Melbourne metropolitan schools.
Lockdown: PV media comment
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy was quoted in a Herald-Sun article today, titled Home schooling Melbourne lockdown: Parents guide to home teaching.
Gail said she wanted to emphasise to all parents and carers in Lockdown 4 (which we she hopes is a very short stint) to do the best they can with what they can.
"Every household is different, no one's situation is exactly the same and there will be families under extreme stress, be it financial and emotional. Can't emphasise enough how important it is for the adults to be mindful in the presence of their children and young people.
"Parents were resourceful in the longer lockdowns and were extremely adaptive and PV can only ask all the families and the educators to keep going, but do take breaks as required.
"Remember students learn in many ways and reflect on the creative ways we all used in 2020 to change it up and maintain positivity.
"Maintaining optimism,sticking to routines as best you can, looking after yourself and asking for help will be key things to consider right now."
The Herald-Sun article is behind a paywall - you can read it if you have a subscription.
Covid lockdown: schools to close
A 7-day lockdown announced on 27 May means that schools will close for on-site learning. See the statement from Acting Premier James Merlino.
New COVIDSafe measures for schools
The Education Department has issued a bulletin to schools outlining the new COVIDSafe measures announced yesterday.
The bulletin gives new rules on the wearing of face masks, school camps/excursions and other activities. These new rules will be in place until at least 4 June.
Parent engagement research survey
A group of academics from the University of Western Australia and University of Melbourne are investigating how parents and caregivers engage with schools and how this engagement is influenced by schooling policies. A key part of this project is an online survey designed to better understand how Victorian and Western Australian parents and caregivers engage with schools. The survey is anonymous and will take about 7 minutes. It is open until 31 May.
We encourage all parents to complete the survey, and we'll report on the results when they are available.
Religious knives in schools: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun published an article yesterday stating that, "A loophole in Victorian law is allowing certain students to bring knives to school, despite the type being used in a recent NSW school stabbing." The article refers to the kirpan, a knife that initiated Sikhs are required to carry at all times by their religion. The issue has become controversial since a student was allegedly stabbed with a kirpan in NSW recently.
PV's Executive Officer Gail McHardy was interviewed for the article. Gail said, "Victoria should “take heed of the NSW experience and review its legislation and advice to schools. Even with rules, regulations and required communications, this will not mitigate every potential risk if we allow for exemptions, (like) wearing a kirpan. It may not be the student (person) who the kirpan belongs to that causes the harm but access by others remains a possibility.”
The Herald-Sun article is behind a paywall but you can read it if you have a subscription.
Our full response
Here's the full response that Parents Victoria provided to the Herald-Sun on this topic:
Suspended and disqualified teachers: PV media comment
The Herald-Sun reported today that "Teachers are being dumped from classrooms at an alarming rate..." The article states that over 70 teachers have been suspended or disqualified by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) since 2019. The reasons included sex, drug and violence offences.
The article quotes a VIT spokeswoman as saying that new levels of community awareness and increased powers had contributed to improving child safety.
PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy is quoted in the article. Gail said the register was important to protect children. “The royal commissions have taught us to do it better in the future. So it’s important their safety is paramount and the regulator is given the job to do what they have to do,” Ms McHardy said.
- Read the Herald-Sun article (paywall protected; you can read it if you have a subscription.)
- See the VIT Register of Disciplinary Actions
(PDF download, opens in new tab)
New rules around teacher-student relationships
In related news, the new VIT Code of Conduct for teachers, which comes into force next term, will ban sexual relationships between teachers and former students for two years after the student leaves school. VIT has taken this action after the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry in Victoria and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the risk of 'grooming' by teachers.
