Mr Davis's comments come after Calwell High School was issued a WorkSafe ACT prohibition notice which referenced offensive and violent behaviour from students towards staff.

One particular incident in the principal's office sent the school into lockdown and left one teacher with broken teeth, a dislocated shoulder, bruising and welts.

Education Minister Yvette Berry previously told The Canberra Times such violent incidents were rare in public schools.

Mr Davis said he rejected this statement.

"I don't agree with the minister on that assessment," he said.

"I think that violence is frequent through our schools, government and non-government schools, just as violence is frequent, unfortunately, throughout our community.

"I don't want this story of Calwell High School to become an unmitigated beat-up on government schools."

Ms Berry was pressed on her comments in question time on Thursday.

"I have not suggested that there are not incidents in our schools," she said.

"I have suggested that this particular incident is rare in our schools. This kind of critical incident of significant physical assault is rare in our schools."

Mr Davis said he knew the Calwell community well and he was very distressed about the reports of violence.

He said he had spoken with representatives from Ms Berry's office, the Australian Education Union and several parents

"A lot of parents were distressed as they were led to believe that the transition to learning from home was a direct result of teacher shortages from COVID and not necessarily related to a violent incident," he said.

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He said the Education Directorate had put interventions in place, including hiring an extra deputy principal, but what had transpired suggested this wasn't enough.

Calwell High School P&C president Annalisa Ross said it had been a difficult time for the school community.

"Violence is never OK and it's distressing to know that people - our hard-working staff - have been hurt," Ms Ross said.

She said the school was committed to a continuous improvement journey and there were positive trends around student behaviour and wellbeing support.

When asked what he was doing as a member of the government to resolve the dual issues of workforce shortages and school violence, Mr Davis pointed to his work on the school infrastructure inquiry and the inquiry into the Auditor-General's report on teacher quality.

"Like so many other crises this [teacher shortage] is a national crisis, of which the ACT is not immune."

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