The commission wrote to tens of thousands of Victorian parents at some 100 schools last week.

The letter, from CEC chief executive Stephen Elder, claimed that the Greens' education policies would result in less funding for Catholic students and potentially higher school fees.

The letter also warned that the Greens would stop religious exemptions for employment in Catholic schools.

Principals and school leaders have contacted the Greens, saying that they will not pass on Mr Elder's letter.

One Catholic principal said it was not the role of a school to tell parents how to vote.

"I respect the adults in our school community to make up their own mind about who to vote for," he told The Age.

"I didn't see the point in us telling parents how to vote.

"I am sure they have made up their own minds already."

The Greens have called on the commission to send another letter to families correcting its "misleading comments".

The Greens accused the commission of ignoring the best interest of students and Catholic teachings.

Senator Nick McKim said the Greens' policies on asylum seekers, global warming and the environment were more consistent with Catholic teaching than the major parties' policies.

The senator suggested Mr Elder's letter was motivated by his close association with the Liberal Party.

Mr Elder stood by what he stated in the letter.

He said the Greens would strip funding from non-government schools and repel religious exemptions for employment

He added that the Greens had ignored his requests to clarify its education policies.

Australia's federal election is on July 2.

Sources

• The Age
• Image: Sky News

Worksafe communications general manager John Tulloch said the new legislation reflected modern workplace conditions, the Southland Times reported.

Mr Tulloch is on the board of trustees at St Benedict's School in Khandallah, Wellington.

He said he understands there was some concern about the Health and Safety at Work Act, which came into force on Monday.

Principals will bear more responsibility when accidents happen at their schools.

Under the act, principals could be held liable if they fail to exercise due diligence in ensuring their school meets health and safety requirements.

Penalties including fines of up to $600,000 or five years imprisonment could be imposed if they fail to do so.

"Let's not lose sight of the main goal here: New Zealand has a really poor workplace health and safety record, almost twice the rate of Australia, three times the rate of the UK," Mr Tulloch said.

"There's nothing new, but having responsibilities for managing risk," he said.

Information had already been distributed to schools helping explain what the new legislation meant, he added.

A section on both WorkSafe's and the Ministry of Education's websites offered further information, he said.

Some school principals have reportedly reacted to the prospect of their being held liable by planning to place their family homes in trusts.

One school in the Wairarapa reportedly imposed a temporary ban on students climbing trees.

The Health and Safety at Work Act was prompted by the Pike River mine disaster in 2010, in which 29 men were killed.

Sources

• Southland Times
• Stuff.co.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

Mrs Pasley, who heads Auckland's Baradene College, said schools were screaming out for advice over the Health and Safety at Work Act, which comes into force next month.

Principals could be fined up to $600,000 if they fail to exercise due diligence and someone is hurt at school.

Some school principals are planning to put their homes into trust.

The Secondary Principals' Association sought legal advice for its members.

It wanted to know if transferring assets was necessary, but lawyers could not give them a definitive response.

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Walsh said a legal Pandora's box had been opened after a judge forced St Bede's College to reinstate two teen rowers dropped from its team ahead of the Maadi Cup in March.

"We are aware of principals who contact SPANZ to say they are threatened with legal action and now they've got the St Bedes' case that appears to support [a parent's] right to seek injunctions on matters related to co-curricular activities where that hasn't happened before."

Walsh said courts had previously allowed principals and trustees to make decisions in schools because they accepted boards were elected representatives of the community.

The Herald on Sunday reported that parents are threatening principals with legal injunctions if their children are overlooked for sports teams and school musicals.

The increased threats have forced the Government, principals and Crown Law to work together to draw up legal advice for schools faced by parents hiring lawyers.

Ministry of Education head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said Crown Law was drafting legal submissions for school boards to use when challenged - particularly as disputes could escalate so quickly.

An Auckland lawyer specialising in education law John Hannan said the Bill of Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child were key factors in the case when Hastings student, Lucan Battison won the right to keep his long hair.

But a move away from the courts' traditional reluctance to intervene in school matters, was also important, he said.

"Generally there's been a willingness at the courts to look at what decisions schools are making, and to not be prepared to have the deference to the authority of the school management and principal that they may once have had," Mr Hannan said.

He said there was a more litigious mood amongst parents and schools simply did not have the resources to deal with it.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: google.co.nz

The secondary schools with new principals are St Peter's College Gore, Carmel College Auckland, St Mary's College Auckland and Sacred Heart Girls' College Hamilton. Continue reading