Australian School Principals Report Record Near 50 Percent Jump in Student Attacks

School principals reported a 48.2 percent jump in physical violence, mostly from students and parents.

Teacher Noeleen Lumby teaches Aboriginal languages to children at St Johns High School, in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 14, 2012. William West/AFP via Getty Images

Australian school principals are experiencing a record-high surge in physical attacks from students, driving many perilously close to the brink of self-harm.

A survey conducted by the Australian Catholic University (ACU) of 2,300 school principals found 48.2 percent experienced physical violence in 2023, up 76.5 percent from 2011.