The Wānaka App has apologised to Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) for the use of an image accompanying a recent article.

The image of a raised fist accompanied an article about a trend of increasing bad behaviour and disruption in New Zealand schools.

However, nowhere in the article was it suggested that physical violence was part of increasingly “challenging” behaviour at MAC.

The Wānaka App accepts the choice of image was inappropriate.

The article refers to a recent Education Review Office (ERO) report on student behaviour in New Zealand classrooms which says teachers and principals have seen a rise in talking inappropriately in class, distracting others, refusing to follow instructions, damaging or taking property, and physically harming others.

“Over the past two years, we have seen some change in student behaviour; there are more complex needs (mental health, learning needs and behavioural needs)..,” MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said in the article.

Following publication of the story, Nicola said the image used was not “a fair or reasonable way to depict the young people in the school and Wānaka community”.

“I think the young people in our community are awesome, and they would not see themselves in the way the image depicts,” she said.

Read more: Worsening student behaviour causes disruption

IMAGE: Supplied