{"id":72755,"date":"2024-05-08T00:08:30","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T04:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=72755"},"modified":"2024-05-08T00:08:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T04:08:30","slug":"expelling-students-for-bad-behaviour-seems-like-the-obvious-solution-but-is-it-really-a-good-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/expelling-students-for-bad-behaviour-seems-like-the-obvious-solution-but-is-it-really-a-good-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"Expelling students for bad behaviour seems like the obvious solution, but is it really a good idea?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two male students\u00a0have been expelled<\/a>\u00a0from a Melbourne private school for their involvement in a list ranking female students.<\/p>\n

The two were part of a group of four high school students suspended from Yarra Valley Grammar last Friday, after sharing a spreadsheet of photos of female classmates, ranking them with terms including \u201cwifeys\u201d, \u201ccuties\u201d and \u201cunrapable\u201d.<\/p>\n

As principal Mark Merry\u00a0said in a letter<\/a>\u00a0to parents on Tuesday, he had \u201cformed the view\u201d the position of two of the students had \u201cbecome untenable\u201d. The two other students who played a \u201clesser role\u201d will face \u201cdisciplinary action\u201d. The school is offering wellbeing support to the girls who were targeted.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, the suspensions were met with approval from Education Minister Jason Clare\u00a0who told the ABC<\/a>, \u201cI\u2019m glad the school\u2019s fronting up. I think that they\u2019ve taken the sort of action that the community would expect\u201d.<\/p>\n

Expelling or suspending students for this kind of behaviour seems like the obvious course of action. But is it a good idea?<\/p>\n

Why do schools suspend or expel students?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Suspending or expelling a student is meant to be a\u00a0last resort<\/a>\u00a0for serious problem behaviour. It is either supposed to allow space for a reset or as a consequence for behaviour which threatens other students\u2019 safety or learning.<\/p>\n

In the case of Yarra Valley Grammar, the suspensions and expulsions send a message to the girls in the school, other students, parents and the broader public this behaviour is not tolerated.<\/p>\n

With so much media and public attention on the spreadsheet, the suspensions and expulsions also help protect the reputation of the school.<\/p>\n

Clearly there has been some horrendous behaviour and it does need to have a stern response. But without condoning the behaviour in any way, kicking these students out of school is not the best way to handle this situation, which is a symptom of a much bigger problem.<\/p>\n

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Two boys have been expelled from an exclusive private school, Yarra Valley Grammar, after producing a spreadsheet that used disparaging language to rate female classmates\u2019 appearanceshttps:\/\/t.co\/UWiHc36CcX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Age (@theage) May 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n