Education stakeholders have thrown their support behind the state’s draft Education Act and its addition to set a minimum standard for adult behaviour at schools.   

The draft act states that if the principal of a state school believes an adult on school premises or present at a school activity is behaving unacceptably, the principal can take action.   

A parent could be asked to leave the school premises or to not re-enter the school for a specific period.   

If parents do not comply with this, they could face a large fine.   

Tasmanian Principals Association president Malcolm Elliott says that while the vast majority of parents were respectful towards school employees, occasionally abusive behaviour did happen on school grounds.   

‘‘There’s been some absolutely inappropriate actions taken by parents in schools and we’re really saying that this has to stop,’’ he said.   

‘‘Some of the behaviour is physical – there’s been incidents where there were verbal threats of violence towards principals and teachers.   

‘‘I’m certainly aware of verbally threatening behaviour towards a teacher by a group of adults.’’   

Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations president Ant Dry says that for parents who were supposed to be acting as role models for their children, it was troubling to have witnessed violence in schools.  

‘‘I think that we do need someone to protect our staff, so what’s in the draft is a very good idea,’’ he said.   

‘‘What sort of a role model does it set to have the parents acting like that? Children learn that bullying is acceptable.’’  

 Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff says inappropriate adult behaviour at schools could pose a risk to the safety of students and staff.   

‘‘The proposed amendment to the Education Act would allow principals, in conjunction with their school association, to develop a policy to outline the minimum standard for adult behaviour in their schools,’’ he said.   

‘‘It is important that we lead by example and set the best standards for our children, and this proposed change would ensure this.’’