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'Wag' texts latest tool
Townsville Bulletin
By LINDA SOUTER 05apr06

WAG it and weep.

A Townsville high school has started using mobile phone SMS messaging to dob in wagging students to their mums and dads.

William Ross State High School principal Garry Chew said each time a student had an unauthorised absence from school a message would be sent to parents.

Mr Chew said the fundamental reason for setting up the $6000 system was to improve the amount of learning students received.

"If you can decrease unauthorised absences you increase engaged learning time," Mr Chew said.

He said the school first looked into the system three years ago after it was introduced in some southern states.

"We trialled it last year with positive results," Mr Chew said.

The school has more than a thousand students and student safety was a high priority.

"Students who attend school regularly were likely to be more successful and safer," he said.

More than 200 Australian schools now use the SMS truancy system, with absentee rates slashed by up to 90 per cent.

The Victorian Government last year moved to introduce the SMS truancy system throughout the State and it is widely used throughout South Australia and New South Wales.

Research data from schools indicates they were seven times more likely to reach a parent by SMS than land-line telephone call, email and letter combined.

Mr Chew said the way the system worked was quite simple.

The class rolls are marked first up in the morning and then by 10am the texting begins.

The message advises parents that their child is missing from school and asks for a reply and a reason.

"Many of the unauthorised absences are for legitimate reason such as illness," Mr Chew said.

He said the feedback from parents was encouraging.

"Parents are thanking us and are grateful for the messages," Mr Chew.

"Many even apologise for not notifying the school of their child's absence."

Mr Chew said text messaging was another way to stimulate communication between parents and the school.

"Once parents have received a few text messages they tend to start automatically ringing the school," he said.

Mr Chew said it meant that the matter could be dealt with on the day rather than a week later when a letter arrived.

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