Pupils found with knives, tasers and knuckledusters in Victoria's schools
Children have been caught carrying an arsenal of weapons at primary and secondary schools across Victoria.
They are places of innocence, but documents released to Seven News under Freedom of Information (FOI) show Victorian schools are seeing an alarming transformation from playgrounds into battlegrounds.
In the past three years, police have been called to investigate more than 50 incidents of students being caught with weapons inside school grounds.
"The modern day schoolyard has lost its innocence," Victoria's child welfare commissioner, Bernie Geary, said.
Many of the frightening discoveries have been made at primary schools.
A student was found with a machete and another knife at Coolaraoo Primary School.
Knives were also found on pupils at Craigieburn and Kurunjang Primary Schools.
Students were caught with two explosive devices at an unnamed primary school in Springvale.
In one disturbing incident at Werribee Primary School, a child was caught in possession of a taser.
A teacher confiscated the device and called police.
The pupil claimed he had armed himself for protection because he felt unsafe.
Bullying, harassment and safety fears are a common thread in these incidents.
"I think we should be horrified by an awful situation that involves children feeling frightened enough to the think that they need weapons to protect themselves at that age. It's horrific," said Mr Geary.
The numbers were even higher in secondary schools.
Knives were the most commonly held weapons, with dozens confiscated.
Other weapons seized from students included a taser, detected in Catholic Regional College in Keilor North.
A machete, balaclava and sawn-off shotgun were discovered in the car park of a south eastern suburbs secondary college, and a similar incident involving students wearing ski masks, and terrorizing students and teachers occurred at Kensington Community High School.
Knuckle dusters were found at Koo Wee Rup and Strathmore Secondary College, and an imitation hand-gun at Mordialloc College.
"Adults need to take on the responsibility of properly modelling behaviours to children that doesn't include violence," said Mr Geary.
