• Unacceptable behaviour
• Discipline and behaviour management
• Bullying

Unacceptable behaviour

Each school has a disciplinary policy that outlines unacceptable behaviour and disciplinary measures that the school can use.

Unacceptable behaviour by students includes:

• refusing to participate in the education program
• refusing to follow instructions about conduct
• behaviour that disrupts or affects the learning of other students
• actions likely to be detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of staff or other students
• behaviour that causes or is likely to cause damage
• behaviour that is likely to bring the school into disrepute

You can appeal against decisions of exclusion, expulsion and prohibition if you think they have been made unfairly. You should first talk to your school principal and if matters cannot be resolved, the Learning Services General Manager should be contacted.

Your child’s school will also have a behaviour support plan. This is to create a positive environment so that teachers and students can work together. The rights and responsibilities of each person are recognised and respected. A set of rules protects these rights and there are consequences for those who do not accept their responsibilities. As part of the behaviour support plan, your child’s school will have established processes so that conflict can be resolved in a positive, non-violent way.

Students have rights to:

• learn in a purposeful and supportive environment
• work and play in a safe, secure, friendly and clean environment
• be respected and treated courteously

At the same time, they have responsibilities to:

• ensure that their behaviour is not disruptive to the learning of others
• ensure that the school environment is kept neat, tidy and secure
• ensure that they are on time and prepared for work
• behave in a way that protects the safety and wellbeing of others
• treat others in a respectful and courteous way

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Discipline and behaviour management

Children who behave in an unacceptable way may receive a detention. When behaviour is more extreme, students may be suspended, excluded or expelled from a school or, in the worst case, prohibited from attending any government school.

For more information see the department's Discipline guidelines

Rules help students to feel secure because they define how everyone is expected to behave. They are usually simple and few, and they provide guidance for behaviour in the classroom and around the school. Rules in a typical primary classroom could include:

• Put up your hand before speaking when you are in a group.
• Enter and leave the room in a quiet and orderly way.
• Replace equipment in its correct place when you have finished with it.
• No put-downs.

Talk to your school principal about the expectations the school has of students and how misdemeanours are dealt with.

Corporal punishment is not used in Tasmanian government schools.

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Bullying

In spite of the best efforts of schools, bullying sometimes occurs.

Bullying is deliberately hurting, threatening or frightening someone. It can include teasing, name-calling, preventing others from going where they want to go or from doing what they want to do, or physically hurting someone. It can be done directly, through other people, or using technology such as email and text messaging.

If you believe that your child is being bullied:

• Encourage your child to talk openly about what is happening.
• Write down when, where and with whom problems seem to be happening.
• Make an appointment to see their teacher or the school principal to discuss the matter.
• Ask about the school’s policy.
• Keep in contact with the school until you are happy that the problem has been sorted out.

For more information on preventing bullying, see the department's page on Promoting positive behaviour or contact your school.

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