SCHOOL AND SEALINK KEEN TO STAMP OUT STUDENT SHOCKING BEHAVIOUR ON PASSENGER FERRIES
Island residents know there are some passenger ferry services more desirable than others.
And easily their ‘worst possible choice’ is to have to share a ferry journey with island school students, and high school students in particular.
A recent journey from Redland Bay to the islands was a perfect example.
So bad was the behaviour, The Friendly Bay Islander took the opportunity to photograph a group who were particularly foul, with ‘F” word expletives a constant as one irresponsible youngster after another tried to ‘out do’ another.
The young person who’s face is turned to the camera in the centre, went even further.
After being outed by some passengers, he turned on them and started another ‘tirade’ of heckling and abuse, and pointing fingers in an aggressive manner.
At one stage several passengers suggested they should calm down and to stop swearing. (It can be seen here in the picture where a passenger turns to address the teenagers, whilst another warns the worst offender that his picture is being taken).
The criticism was not well received.
The behaviour was also noticed by the skipper and deck hand on board; both expressing disgust at the foul language and behaviour.
What was obvious to all who witnessed the abuse and language was there seems to be no pride in students of today in their uniform, their school, or how they are perceived in the island community and the community at large.
They add terribly to a reputation that the islands have been trying to shed for some years.
These young people bring no pride in their behaviour. Only shame.
Where is the respectful behaviour of years gone by when a youngster would recognise their surroundings and behave in an orderly manner and perhaps offer their seat to a senior passenger?
No chance today where some young people behave in a manner that is nothing but down right appalling and embarrassing not only to their school, fellow students who do behave themselves, and to their families.
We contacted Victoria Point High School and received strong support in our complaint of the student behaviour on our ferries, and generally in public.
We had a long conversation with school principal Andrew Beattie who assured us that the situation would be ‘addressed’ at school assemblies and the school was ‘aware’ and ‘determined to make students aware’ regarding public behaviour.
It is believed being ‘spelled’ is the most extreme option.
We also took the matter to Sealink and were advised that there were ‘strict’ guidelines on intervention in such matters.
On reading the Government guidelines provided to us, we discovered that crew can intervene and warn school children who misbehave.
They also can be refused travel as the most extreme option.
Sealink were also going to meet with Principal Beattie to develop further strategies to improve student behaviour in public.
