Crises Converge to Fuel Jump in Misbehaviour

The South Australian Department for Education has found that reported cases of violent incidents in public schools increased by 50 per cent in 2023.

Totalling more than 13,100 'critical incidents' in 2023, the data also show rising rates of e-crime and concerns about the welfare of students, noting significant jumps in incidents involving weapons, property damage and sexual behaviour.

While reported incidents in the first half of 2024 have declined as opposed to in 2023 - a figure in which SA Education Minister Blair Boyer claims is assisted by the banning of mobile phones in public schools -  Opposition education spokesperson John Gardner said these figures "paint an alarming picture across the board".

Expert in youth violence, Dr Ben Lohmeyer of Flinders University, says these incidents form part of a broader social issue that requires a "whole of education community approach".

"Any reports of violence, bullying, and intimidation in school are a concern. Schools are an important hub in our communities and should be a safe place for students, parents and teachers,” he says

"The South Australian Government policy Connected: A Community Approach To Bullying Prevention Within The School Gates And Beyond recognises what research shows, that violence and bullying in our schools are part of a broader social issue.

"A whole of educational community approach looks at individual factors, social dynamics, and social and cultural factors that contribute to violence and bullying in schools.

"It has been widely reported that in South Australia we are in a cost-of-living crisis, a housing crisis, a ramping crisis, and are still in the shadow of a pandemic and a climate emergency.

"This social context, and the strain it places on families, puts pressure on children and young people and reduces the support available to them. It is therefore unsurprising that we might see young people acting aggressively or see a rise in other issues like loneliness.

"Rather than focusing solely on bad behaviour or access to social media, solving the problem of violence and bullying in schools will need to address the social factors putting pressure on children, young people, families and schools."