Rush reiterated that diversity and mainstreaming within the system is fundamentally important, allowing students with neurodiversities, such as autism, or special education needs to be included in general education classrooms.
However, he says there needs to be urgent action around alternatives for seriously troubled young people with violent tendencies that threaten the safety of fellow students and staff. We are seeing really serious, damaging behaviours - hitting, spitting, stabbing, sexualised behaviours towards other students. We have a legislative responsibility to be concerned about how we can protect not only that student, but the students around them, he said. We support inclusion, but we [need] a solution for those very, seriously troubled young people - and young people who are exhibiting behaviours that are harmful for those around them. We cannot support a schooling system where young people are being hurt, that is not okay.
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Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 4:54 pm
As commentary in the media ramps up about schools
excluding students who display extreme behaviours, Perry
Rush, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation
has again expressed the views of the
Federation. Let’s be clear, he said. School
principals support the inclusion policy and believe every
child has the right to an education for which they are best
suited. It becomes difficult, when schools are
directed to enrol students with extreme behaviours when
either the school is unsuitable or the support is
inadequate, he said.
Not every school is physically
suitable to accommodate every child’s learning. Some young