A teenager had a knife held to his throat in a classroom by a bully who threatened to "slit him and watch him bleed".Well, at least the school were right on top of the sit…
Police were called to The Archbishop Lanfranc School, in Mitcham Road, West Croydon, on Monday, and arrested a pupil in connection with the incident.
Oh:
Speaking about Monday's incident, his mum Kelly, of Bute Road, Waddon, said: "I knew straightaway something was up.Probably, yes.
"He told me that he'd had a knife held to him during a food technology lesson.
"The school did nothing, they hadn't phoned me or the police, so I called the police myself.
"They went straight there and I met the officers.
"The officers arrested the boy but the rest of the class were too scared to speak up against this bully.
"I felt physically sick. I still do at the thought of it.
"Charlie is depressed.Will it have to take him killing himself before they do something about the problem?"
In the past, Mrs Marsh claims Charlie has been savagely beaten with a belt, had money stolen and his clothes ripped.These are assaults. Why is no-one taking them seriously?
He was also beaten by a gang of bullies in a stairwell while others filmed the sickening ordeal on their mobile phones.
Hospital letters seen by the Advertiser tell of occasions Charlie has been hospitalised because of his injuries.
Head teacher David Clark confirmed police had arrested a pupil, who was later released.Without charge? Presumably because no-one admitted to witnessing it?
He told the Advertiser there had been a history of issues but that the school had a "highly regarded" anti-bullying programme in place.Clearly, if they are still continuing, you haven’t ‘dealt with them in an appropriate manner’, have you?
Mr Clark added: "We have offered Charlie and his family all the support we can, both through the school and with external agencies.
"There have been incidents in the past, and where incidents have occurred we have dealt with them in an appropriate manner including using necessary sanctions to other pupils who were involved."
But then, when you spend all your time arranging photo opportunities for minor rappers and begging for rebuilding money, I expect the small things slip your mind…
12 comments:
Come on now, we can't go getting the police involved for every classroom spat, after all it's not as though someone was asked if they "came from Africa"...
'a history of issues' - the slimy euphemisms these people dream up.
West Croydon seems to be the worst part of the town for trouble.
"food technology"
Sounds like a thoroughly practical and useful course that'll help the younger generation prepare for the real world.
Evidence is the key. Without it seriously what can you do. In this case it is one word against another. i am sure the police know exactly what happened but without the evidence tell me what can be done?
From the school point of view I would look to CCTV in each classroom. This would then a) Provide evidence where it exists b) Moderate class behaviour. Somehow I suspect teaching staff would be agin' it though.
Time for an ASBO I think!
I like anti-bullying policies. It means there are long meetings between the great and good and a weighty document drawn up that says 'we don't approve of bullying' which in turn brings gasps of admiration from other members of the great and good.
In the meantime, everyone urns their back on the actual bullying because, hey, they is all victims, right?
"Come on now, we can't go getting the police involved for every classroom spat, after all it's not as though someone was asked if they "came from Africa"..."
Ah, interesting you should mention that! Just this morning,. the other mother in that case popped up in the comments to put her side.
"West Croydon seems to be the worst part of the town for trouble."
A lot of the worst stuff seems to be from there, yes.
"Sounds like a thoroughly practical and useful course..."
I suspect it's what was 'home economics' when I was at school (and 'cookery' the year before I joined).
"From the school point of view I would look to CCTV in each classroom."
I really can't imagine that ever being acceptable!
"In the meantime, everyone urns their back on the actual bullying because, hey, they is all victims, right?"
It's the modern way - we have a 'procedure', we have 'guidelines', we have 'mandatory reporting'....we just don't DO anything...
The police are being much more open now about letting people get away with things or not bothering to investigate in the first place. It used to be that there was always an excuse, now they don't bother so much.
The mobile phone evidence would have been enough if they'd been on the ball, carrying a knife for no good reason is a crime in itself, unless it was one they were using in '" ' " " 'food technology' " ' " ' " ' " (are there quote marks in the world sufficient to correctly isolate that loathsome phrase in the irony it deserves?)
The rule is: if you are attacked by a fellow pupil, say that they called you a poof.
The police will have no option then.
'Procedure', 'Guidelines', 'anti-bullying programme' - all designed by the sort of people who never have to get their hands dirty with the reality.
I once heard a presentation by a worthy type who explained how her favoured anti-bullying strategy would work in schools:
"We gather the pupils into groups and ask them to confront the issue by discussing what it feels like to be bullied and considering what might motivate one child to bully another, using techniques such as brainstorming and role-play to explore the situation in a neutral context."
From my experience, this would undoubtedly provide a source of intense hilarity to the bullies - as well as conveniently helping them to identify potential future targets.
It's just the teachers bullying a child by proxy, it happens all the time, it's the classic way of getting back at either the child or the parents.
As to the 'African' child story, what a great way of ensuring that the kids in question will each carry a hefty chip on their shoulder for the rest of their life after that 'lesson'...
Your blog-post was an interesting read. Although I am in the same year group as Charlie Marsh, I heard little news about this event. The school staff had obviously found something more important to discuss. Death threats perhaps hold little significance in the face of things; the school is more concerned about its dilapidated buildings.
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