Last WA school using corporal punishment forced to end practice from next term
Updated
The last school in Western Australia still using corporal punishment will be forced to use other methods of discipline from the start of the school year.
Nollamara Christian Academy in Perth will have to comply with new regulations announced by Education Minister Peter Collier.
The changes will close a loophole that has allowed non-government schools to continue using the cane and other forms of physical discipline.
Mr Collier said the change reflected community expectations in the 21st century.
"Personally, as a former educator, as Education Minister, I find it unpalatable that we can even consider smacking a child in order to modify his or her behaviour," Mr Collier said.
Corporal punishment has not been used in the state's government school system since the 1980s.
The new regulation will come into force in the first half of this year, but it is understood Nollamara Christian Academy has agreed to use other methods of discipline from the start of the school year.
A lobby group representing parents welcomed the move.
Pat Byrne of the Australian Education Union says the announcement will be irrelevant to most teachers, trying to discipline students with fewer resources due to budget cuts.
"One of the consequences of these budget cuts has been that many of the programs that are there to attract students or retain them in schools have had to be either cut completely or significantly reduced - now there will be a consequence to that."
Topics: schools, nollamara-6061
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