Behaviour problems in schools: PV media comment

A recent article in the Age focuses on increased behavioural issues in schools as students and teachers try to get back to normal after the Covid-19 disruptions of the past 2 years.

According to the article:

Disruptive behaviour and poor wellbeing among students have emerged as bigger problems in Victorian schools this year than learning loss after two years of disrupted schooling.

Primary school principals say they are grappling with new behavioural issues among students, including new cases of school refusal, alarming social media activity and vaping on school grounds.

Radio 3AW followed up this article with a report on its Drive show on 13 April. Host Heidi Murphy interviewed PV Chief Executive Officer Gail McHardy. Here’s a summary of Gail’s comments:

• The pandemic has created challenges for the whole community, not just children.
• Quality relationships are the key to resolving conflicts and behavioural issues.
• The ‘blame game’ benefits nobody, we need to be focused on solutions.
• Schools and families need to work together on these issues.
• PV’s ‘Think, Wait, Communicate‘ slogan is very relevant here, to what we say and do, both online and in the real world.