A public school in Queensland, Australia announced its new policy of contacting the police if parents fail to pick up their children on time. According to the school’s Facebook post on May 19, parents are required to collect their children from the school at 3:00 p.m. every weekday or until 30 minutes after the end of classes. If they are unable to do so, parents must notify the front desk in advance. Parents who disobey this new policy are to be reported to the police and Child Safety Services. “If you are not prepared to organise to collect your child after school and have not made arrangements with after school services, please organise a safe place for your child to wait. School is not that place as there is only supervision for 30 minutes after school,” the school wrote in a comment on the Facebook post.

The Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) and its department of education support the idea of the school’s course of action. “The job of a school is to provide education for students and school hours are really clear to parents,” QTU President Cresta Richardson said. However, parents’ opinions are divided on the matter. Some agree; others believe it is a drastic measure to a minor offense. Those who disagree argue that leaving their children on school premises an hour or so does not require the police to be involved. Drop-off zones can be difficult to access as well during school days due to traffic jams.