YOU REALLY COULDN'T.
For reasons I am unable to go into, I can not say what might or might not have happened to my child in the past.
Today he came back from school with dirt all over his clothes and very visibly shaken up. I asked him what had happened. He "reluctuntly" told me he was set upon by FIVE pupils and kicked by them while he was on the ground (where a couple of them had struck him to.)
Naturally I was absolutely horrified, even more so when he told me two of the names of his attackers, which are names that have, shall we say, cropped up more than once.
I telephoned the school and asked to speak to the headteacher, approx 30 mins later I got a call from who I believe to be the deputy head. I think it would be unfair to name him as I will be publishing my recollection of our telephone call and it won't make him look too good and I'm sure he has family that wouldn't appreciate it being published all over the internet that he is paid from the neck down by the education department, who in my opinion are seriously neglecting our children.
This particular teacher explained to me that an "incident" had occured , the "incident" had been "investigated" and as a result of the "investigation" two pupils had been SUSPENDED, yes you read that correctly SUSPENDED.
So I said to the teacher "let me get this right. FIVE pupils commit, what I believe to be,a grave and criminal assault on my child and you give two of them a few days off"? "So tomorrow they can get one of their older mates to get them a few cans of beer and go and hang out together?
To which he replied "suspending a child is the strongest sanction in our remit". "There is no "tuffer" sanction"
If I was one of these kids (as I told the teacher) While swigging my can of beer I would think GREAT! the worst they can do is suspend us. When we get back to school we'll give him another hiding and see if we can't get a couple of weeks off.
I asked the teacher if he would tell me the names of the two pupils that had been suspended. He said "NO" it is not "policy" to discuss other pupils with other parents. So I said "let me get this right. These pupils can give my son a hiding and me, as a parent, am not allowed to know who they are? To which he replied "That is our policy" but wouldn't tell me if it was schools or education departments.
I asked him what kind of a message does he think he is sending out to anybody thinking about committing an assault or anybody who wants a few days off? to which he replied "we have to follow education department guidelines" I said "even if they are seriously neglecting the children? He said "that is not for me to comment on, I signed a contract to abide by the education departments policies".....So fukc the kids as long as I get my pay cheque? (he didn't say that!)
So it transpires if I want any stronger sanction than giving these kids a few days off I have to contact the police, which I have now done. In order to find out the names of the children that assaulted my child, the said teacher advised me to contact MARIO LUNDY. I have had dealings with Mario Lundy and one thing has come to light. That is one of us is a LIAR.
I would like to make it clear I do not believe punishing these kids is the best solution. I believe trying to understand them, work with them, give them incentives, give them time. Unfortunately that is not (in my experience) how our education department works. And is the only option open to me to try and prevent this, or worse happening YET AGAIN to my child.
The only reason I would want Senator Mike (GST28) Vibert re-elected is that he can still be "on watch" when everything he is responsible for as the Education minister comes to light. If I were him I certainly wouldn't stand again and get out whilst the goings good.
Stuart. Sorry for nicking your slogan but it is just so apt when it comes to describing anything to do with our "ruling elite"
I have e-mailed Senator Mike (GST28) Vibert with these concerns as I don't have, and couldn't find MARIO LUNDY'S e-mail address. I shall keep that and any reply I MIGHT get for another post.
Please, please do as Stuart suggested and write letters, no phone calls or meetings.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much but I think it makes sense.
I'm sorry this has happened to your son.
KC
It is pretty disgraceful that the education department don't publish their contact addresses. Any way you could always ask the JEP - isn't his daughter a journalist -
ReplyDeleteHowever all the channel island blogs are getting bigger and I am sure a lot of fellow CI bloggers will support you.
E-mail Stuart Syvret with this modern tale of abuse.
There is quite obviously something seriously wrong with the education system if such brutal acts as you have described can not only occur, but can occur without any apparent concern from the deputy headteacher!
ReplyDeleteWrite as many letters as necessary and do not stop until something is done about it. I think I speak for most residents when I say you have our full support.
- Benjamin Langlois, The State of Jersey
Think bullying is endemic in our schools .
ReplyDeleteHad similar situations happen with my own child ,who also happens to have a "statement of special needs".
After being patient,and trying to work with the school,had enough when I found a very upsetting note my child had written expressing their thoughts and even spoke in a note of taking their own life.
As any responsible parent would do ,immediately contacted the police,and kept child away from school until situation was resolved to my satisfaction.
I could not have gone to work ,knowing I had placed them in harms way,and in situations that made them feel so depressed.
We previously had the suspension of the abusers,and like you questioned the punishment .
Was told from school that this particular bully had a bad home life and therefore we all gave him the benefit of the doubt.
There comes a point when you feel you have to take the law into your own hands,if you feel you are not getting the right answers from the authorities.
I was prepared to get summoned for their non-attendance at school
As it happens,the situation did get tackled ,and the school knew I was not going to be a push-over if any further episodes came to my attention.
You are lucky to have found out what happened.
ReplyDeleteMany of these things are hidden by the victims and as you know the suffering continues in their mind.
Hopefully, there will be a new Education Minister soon!
The last comment by anonymous is interesting and promising.
ReplyDeleteWhat you must do is persist and show equally that you are no pushover. As I said in my article on my site "Assault is assault no matter what" - there is no excuse.
And never feel guilty about reporting the wrongdoing - “All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
Bullying at school is something that is very hard to regulate as there are really no sanctions against bullies that are effective. Not that I think caning is the answer, but simply suspending the culprit does not seem to teach them any real lesson, especially as they may see it as a legal way of playing truant, and therefore bully more. Do make sure the incident is in writing, and send copies of any letters to (a) the school (b) the head of education (c) the chief officer of education (d) your parish deputy (or a senator you can trust). The importance of (d) is that that informs the others that your letter is not just losable in their filing system but has been seen by an independent politician.
ReplyDeleteThnks to everyone who has shown their support either on your own blogs,comments on here, phonecalls and e-mails.
ReplyDeleteThe advice given to me is sound advice. I have heeded it and am documenting absolutely everything and sending copies to various deputy's and senators.
I'm not sure what I can publish or can't publish of the correspondance so far.
You can be sure I will be publishing EVERYTHING I can, within any constraints.
I'm sure Senator Mike (GST28) Vibert will appreciate the trasparency aspect of it all, as will Mario Lundy now there has been a call for a "minister for children".
I am sure they will be keen to demonstrate to children, parents and the electorate, they have a childs welfare as a priority over self preservation.
Will keep you posted!!
all state's employees e-mail addresses take the form -initial.surname@gov.je try m.lundy@gov.je and good luck -bullying is endemic in this island, not just kids but all over
ReplyDeleteLike your Mike Vibert site dude
ReplyDeleteRe; The Mike Vibert website.
ReplyDeleteI think it is absolutely hilarious and only hope it exposes him for who and what he is.
I can't however take any credit for it!!
mDoodle Von Strudel Here.
ReplyDeleteI'm Right behind you on this one.
Education should not be aloud to get away with it.
This is wot THEY are saying Happened years ago, but its still happening to this day & they just do nothing.
It is a absolute DISGRACE.
If GST 28 Vibert's voter's new how
he treats you & you can't be the only parent in this situation.
He would have to resign.
Teachers are the worst, he's an ex teacher isn't he.
Say no more.
This will come out, its just getting to big, with people now Blogging there own stories, more & more reading them & Talking about them.
Keep up your hard work & get Justice for your Family, then we may start getting some were with other cases.
My daughter was bullied for two years, education done nothing, I was told that she was lying and when she was backed up by four other children they were questioned by the headmaster of the school several times in one day which scared these children. But of course this didn't happen. I don't believe in violence but it was only when she hit the bully back that it stopped although I did receive a phone call telling me that she had hit another child and I then advised the teacher that my daughter had been hit regularly by this child and nothing had been done therefore I could not tell my daughter off for defending herself.
ReplyDeleteIs the school really allowed to do that???? I mean with holding personal information is one thing but when their students have committed a crime (assault)surely they on longer have the right to with hold it!
ReplyDeleteWhat if your son (GOD FORBID) had been stabbed? Would they still be able to just suspend the criminal and not tell anyone (including the police) who it was?
If you stress to the school that you intend to make a formal statement to the police and that you intend to press charges,then they would at least have to tell them.
If they don't then the question which has to be asked is what kind of crime are children allowed to commit at school before the police are involved?