Practical solutions needed to address violence in schools, says PPTA president

Teachers say they are "both at the top of the cliff and the bottom of the cliff" when dealing with growing violence in schools.

Post Primary Teachers' Association president Kate Gainsford said yesterday's stabbing at Avondale College was "appalling" and highlighted a need for an action plan to address violence in schools.

"It's every school's nightmare. What we have been needing for some time are practical, acceptable solutions delivered in a timely manner so that we do not have this kind of event happening."

The number of people arrested for drugs, violence and sex attacks at schools, universities and other education institutions has spiralled over the past 10 years.

Police are arresting an average of 31 people each week of the year at places designated for learning.

Between June 2007 and June last year there were 1658 apprehensions, of which 1064 were for violence. This was a 27 per cent increase from the 1998/99 year.

Ms Gainsford said a meeting between education bodies, the ministry and community groups on March 16 and 17 must prompt an action strategy spelling out ways that agencies could help schools deal with violent students.

A range of factors could trigger violent offences and schools could be better equipped to deal with the full range of problems present in any community of young people, she said.

"Not a lot of schools have social workers, and they probably should in this day and age.

"Sometimes schools can feel they are at both the top and at the bottom of the cliff," she said.

Ms Gainsford said in many cases teachers acted as a broker between students, their families and other agencies.

Appointing police constables to some schools last year had proven effective in those areas - now agencies should work towards a plan to share more community resources with schools.

The meeting would also be a chance to look at the reasons offences were on the rise.

Minister of Education Anne Tolley said she was concerned about any reports of threats to teacher safety.