Teachers at a Perth high school are being blasted for their passive attitude during a violent clash between two students.
Footage has emerged of the two teenagers – both students at Atwell College, south of Perth – engaged in a savage brawl while a teacher watches from the sideline.
The video even seems to show the staff member backing away while the teens repeatedly throw punches at one another.
Footage taken on the playground of Atwell College, south of Perth, shows a violent brawl between two students
It was only when another teacher rushed over that the situation was properly deescalated.
Parents are ropeable at the lack of decisive action, Nine News reports.
‘My daughter showed me [the video] and I was disgusted,’ one parent said.
‘The teacher could have just pushed them apart and said, “right nup back to your class”, they didn’t.
‘They just stood there and watched.’
The two youths can be seen trading blows while a staff member watches from the sideline
The teacher’s union has defended the staff member’s actions, however, pointing out that teachers are not expected to intervene in physical fights because they could face the possibility of criminal assault charges from parents.
While education department guidelines say that staff ‘must take measures to protect students from harm’, they also assert that ‘This does not mean putting themselves in a situation where they may be at risk.’
‘If it’s the education department’s rules, it should be changed,’ said the concerned parent.
‘Because now fights are going worse and bullying is getting worse and when’s it going to stop?’
The Western Australian education department acknowledged that the vision was disturbing, and said it will investigate.
Parents are furious at the lack of intervention from teachers – but the teacher’s union says staff aren’t compelled to step in during physical fights