Some quotes from the article:
ACT wants to give teachers the legal power to remove “seriously or persistently disruptive” students from a classroom.
Announcing the policy in Auckland on Sunday, ACT candidate Paul Henry said the law would give teachers clear legal protections and the power to regain “order” in the classroom.
"Let’s be honest, there are a lot of little shits in classrooms, and we need to address that if we’re going to lift education standards.
The current guidelines allow school staff to physically restrain students as a last resort to prevent harm. The method must also be “reasonable and proportionate”.
Asked how the policy was different from the current guidelines, Henry said his party would be “very specific what that behaviour the teacher can use is”.
ACT would make it so assaulting a teacher, staff member or student would cause an immediate removal and mandatory stand-down or suspension. Serious assaults would be referred to Police Youth Aid.
Parents would be required to get involved when behaviour became serious or repeated, and could be held liable for deliberate property damage caused by their child.
If a parent failed to attend a mandatory meeting without a reasonable excuse they could be fined up to $300 for a first offence and up to $3000 for subsequent offences.
Parents may also be held financially responsible for the cost of deliberate property damage caused by their child at school, which could be recoverable as a debt if unpaid.
This does seem to be a little bit of an odd announcement. They are announcing that they are going to let teachers use reasonable force, which is already the law. When asked what’s different they have basically said they will explain later. So what are they announcing?
I guess the announcement is their continued believe that fines people can’t afford is the way to improve things?
Yep, the whole announcement is about dog whistling to their target demographic; punishment and fines resonate with Act voters.
Everyone else seems upset.
Paul Henry is doing exactly what they brought him on for. His position as list only, ensures that he will never have to go to Wellington; he is a face only.