NEW ZEALAND
“A SAD day for education is how Family Party leader Richard Lewis described the government™s latest plans to station police in south Auckland high schools next month. The government decision to place full-time police officers in 10 schools has generated a wave of varied responses from school principals.
The plan is to reduce the level of violence in low decile schools by having one police officer rotate between two schools for 30 hours a week.
Mr Lewis, leader of the Christian-based political party and a former policeman says: “As long as the government continues to devalue family, foster dependency and undermine parental authority, youth crime and violence will continue to trend upwards, creating more demands on police, school and government “ diverting attention away from education in schools to self-preservation.
The scheme starts in March and the list of schools taking part will include, Tangaroa College, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Manurewa High, James Cook High, Aorere College, De La Salle College, Mangere College, Southern Cross Campus, Otahuhu College and McAuley High.
While it has not been earmarked as part of the scheme Pakuranga™s Edgewater College is in the category of low decile schools, yet the principal Allan Vester says: “It is a waste of time, money and resources. Putting police in schools demonstrates that there is a willingness to accept that there are groups of people who are not socially adjusted to be with other kids.
This begs the question: does the government need to take a closer look at the triggers for school violence and whether an increased police presence will be effective in the long run? Mr Vester says that “while the police will improve the safety of the students when they are present, there are deeper issues that need to be addressed.
In September last year the Ministry of Education unveiled a campaign on family violence and stressed the importance of teacher and student trust. He says introducing the police unit could break the already fragile relationship between trouble teens and students. “There is a need for people who are equipped to deal with the whole family, not just the child.
Manukau city councillor David Newman supports the scheme saying it was “very successful in a similar trial in South Auckland nine years ago. Mr Newman is city councillor for the Manurewa area where several schools will be part of the scheme.
If the scheme is successful the government will consider permanently stationing police in more schools across the region.
Amanda King
25 February 2008
