Assault is just one of the bad behaviours that has caused an overall increase in the number of disciplinary actions handed down to pupils in southern schools. In Southland schools, stand-downs increased 21.1% to 613, suspensions increased 11.4% to 98, exclusions rose 39.3% to 39, and expulsions remained stable on fewer than 5. However, he also said disciplinary actions may be increasing because schools were becoming less tolerant of bad behaviour. ''It's important to note that stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions are measures of a school's reaction to the behaviour. Guidelines for physically restraining pupils exhibiting difficult behaviour have also been developed to help school staff, she said.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 07, 2018 15:41 UTC