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Support for Melbourne vice-principal accused of 'holding student in headlock'

A Melbourne school teacher, accused of holding a student in a headlock during a school brawl, has been backed by students who say the teacher acted to protect others.

Up to 20 students and a staff member, believed to be the vice-principal, were involved in a fight at Berwick Secondary College, southeast of Melbourne, at about 1.30pm on Tuesday.

The violent scene was captured on mobile phone video, which was then circulated on social media.

The footage appears to show the teacher holding a student in a headlock before students and teachers intervene to break them apart.

Mobile phone footage from a Berwick Secondary College brawl appears to show a teacher holding a student in a headlock.
A Berwick Secondary College teacher appears to be holding a student in a headlock during a school brawl. Source: Herald Sun

The student’s mother told the Herald Sun that the video was “confronting to watch” and she hoped the vice-principal would be removed from his post while the incident was investigated.

A Victoria Police spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia that “a member of staff who tried to break up the fight, was assaulted receiving minor injuries”.

Three boys, aged 14-16, were arrested at the scene, but have since been released pending a summons.

A 17-year-old boy was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has since been discharged.

The alleged altercation forced the school in lockdown, with students told to take cover under classroom desks until police arrived, according to the Herald Sun.

Following news reports of the incident, students have since come forward to defend the teacher for intervening.

Mobile phone footage of a Berwick Secondary College school brawl.
Up to 20 students and a staff member, believed to be the vice principal, were involved in a fight at Berwick College, southeast of Melbourne, about 1.30pm on Tuesday.

The Herald Sun reported one student as saying the teacher “did what he had to do to ensure no one else was put in hospital”.

Another student reportedly said the teacher “was helping in the best way he could”.

The incident is being investigated by the police as well as the Victorian Department of Education.

“A number of students have been suspended pending the outcome of our investigations,” a Department spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo News Australia, describing the brawl as a “serious incident”.

Teachers given authority to intervene

“We understand the staff member intervened and restrained the student to prevent the student from committing further assaults,” a Department spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.

“To ensure schools remain a safe place for all, school staff may take reasonable action to restrain a student when they are posing a danger to other children, staff or themselves.”

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