New study highlights severe behaviour in Northland schools

NZ Herald 13 November 2019
Family First Comment: “Self harm, students attacking and/or threatening to attack teachers or other students, students threatening or attacking property, students swearing at one another and students leaving school without permission are just some of the behaviours principals have said they experience in their schools.”
#KidsWithoutBoundaries

A new report has revealed distressing and violent behaviour by students at Northland primary and intermediate schools as teachers details the horrors faced in classrooms.

Those include a child trying to drive her head through a window, others who attempted to inflict injuries on themselves and those who physically attacked their teachers.

Whangārei principal Pat Newman says child mental health services need to work closer with schools.

“How many times do we have to go and say there is problem?”

The report has come from the Te Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association and paints a picture of schools assailed by extreme behaviour in and out of the classroom.

It compiles the results of two short surveys sent to all principals in the region. One regarding severe problem behaviour which 83 principals responded to, the other regarding information about the child which 44 completed.

Self harm, students attacking and/or threatening to attack teachers or other students, students threatening or attacking property, students swearing at one another and students leaving school without permission are just some of the behaviours principals have said they experience in their schools.
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