Teachers call for body-worn cameras in classrooms as abuse spikes

Some Queensland teachers are calling for body cameras to be part of their uniforms as classroom violence rises.

More than 20,000 students in the state were expelled or suspended for physical aggression last year.

A trial of body cameras worn by teachers would allow behavior to be captured, which could also help parents understand what educators face every day.

“Teachers are being physically and verbally abused every day, which is not good,” Education Minister Dee Farmer said.

“Desks are thrown at them, chairs are thrown at them, they’re punched, they’re spat at,” Queensland Professional Association of Teachers national co-ordinator Scott Stanford added.

The offer is being tested in the United Kingdom and the United States. 

But the proposal has divided opinion here, with some noting legal and financial implications, while others say it won’t solve the underlying problem.

“If that’s something teachers require to protect themselves, then I’m all for it,” Stanford said.

“We are really concerned about the privacy of our students and our staff and that would be a bridge too far in our view,” 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 consider before you go down that road,” Queensland Union of Teachers president Cresta Richardson said.

The Department of Education has a set of proposals that will be presented to an expert panel looking at a potential process.