Is this respect? Understanding behaviour and discipline in Australian schools

Detailed summary

Students chatting during class. Children questioning ideas. Principals greeting families at the school gate. For many migrant parents, these moments can be surprising. If Australian schools seem less strict than the schools you remember, here's what you need to know about how behaviour, respect and…

Dr Claire Golledge is a senior lecturer in education at the University of Sydney.

She says Australian classrooms can appear more relaxed than education systems in some other countries.

While this can appear informal, schools still have clear expectations around behaviour, safety and learning.

Dr Golledge explains that Australian schools often view learning as an active process rather than something students simply receive from a teacher.

Dr Lilly Yazdanpanah, a lecturer at La Trobe University who works with future teachers, says learning in Australian classrooms is about more than simply acquiring knowledge.

Students are often encouraged to discuss ideas, work together and reflect on their own progress.

As Dr Yazdanpanah notes, "It may seem like a very noisy classroom, but actually a lot of deep work is going on."

Julie Raciti, a classroom teacher and community hub leader at Springvale Rise Primary School, says Australian schools usually focus on building positive relationships and setting clear expectations.

The aim is to create a safe and supportive learning environment rather than relying on fear or punishment.

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