Some Queensland teachers are calling for body cameras to be part of their uniform as violence in the classroom rises.
More than 20,000 students in the state were expelled or suspended due to physical aggression last year.
A trial for teacher-worn body cameras would allow the behaviour to be captured, which could also help parents understand what educators are facing everyday.
“Teachers are being physically and verbally abused every day that’s not okay,” Education Minister Di Farmer said.
“Desks are being thrown at them, chairs, they’re being punched, spat on,” Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland national coordinator Scott Stanford added.
The proposal is being trialled in the United Kingdom and United States.
But the suggestion has divided opinions here, with some flagging legal and cost ramifications while others claim it won’t fix the core problem.
“If it’s something the teachers are requiring to protect themselves then I’m all for it,” Stanford said.
“We’re really concerned about privacy of our students and our staff and this would be a bridge too far we think,” Queensland Association of State School Principals president Pat Murphy said.
“It’s part of a possible or potential solution but there’s a lot to be considered before you go down that road,” Queensland Teachers Union president Cresta Richardson said.
The Education department has a range of suggestions that will be put forward to an expert group looking into a potential trial.
