Classrooms under siege

SCHOOLS are turning into mini-jails in which teachers must act as wardens, as violence increasingly leads to lockdowns and court orders.

 Such lockdowns have almost tripled since 2006.

One school locks down its students to protect them an average of once a fortnight, Education Department figures released under Freedom of Information reveal.

In 2008 and 2009 there were 52 violence-related lockdowns at state primary and secondary schools, up from 20 in 2006 and 2007.

There has also been a tripling of intervention orders sought by students in the past decade.

Hundreds, many in primary school, are turning to the Children’s Court for protection from school bullies; the court also imposes bail conditions on accused children ordering them to stay away from those they’re accused of victimising.

State Secondary Principals president Brian Burgess said such court-imposed restrictions could be very difficult to deal with and were a growing concern for principals.

Child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said intervention orders were “a nightmare … that puts an unfair burden on already overworked and under-resourced schools.”

And he warned lockdowns could scare young children and have a negative psychological impact.

“There would have to be a fairly significant threat for you to lock down a school,” he said.

Victorian Principals Association president Gabrielle Leigh said primary schools were very concerned about rising violence.

Fewer than half had welfare officers who could intervene before problems erupt, leaving lockdowns the only choice.

Preston’s Bell Primary School locked down its students three times in 17 months. Principal Cresten Pearce said each was in response to threats posed by people outside the school fence.

Figures show 592 intervention orders were made in the Children’s Court for stalking in 2008-09, up from just 209 in 2000-01. About half of orders sought are granted; most are believed to relate to classmates.

Opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon said the State Government’s “soft on crime” approach had created a culture of violence “now infecting our classrooms and schoolyards”.

A government spokeswoman said lockdowns were infrequent and used only to ensure students’ safety.

Andrew McNabb withdrew his daughter, 11, and son, 13, after two lockdowns at Officer Primary. One was after a student “went berserk” throwing chairs, another over a child in a balaclava roaming outside.

“We just thought enough is enough,” he said.

“We have seen an amazing transformation in our son.

“I wish we had withdrawn our children years ago.”

- with Katie Bice