- A 13-year-old boy from Pinelands Primary School is finally receiving psychological assistance from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) following a serious injury and a series of confrontations with an alleged bully from another class.
- According to the boy’s mother, the bullying started as early as September and continued for weeks.
- Bronagh Hammond, the spokesperson for the WCED, said that “the WCED has intervened in the matter.”
A 13-year-old boy from Pinelands Primary School is finally receiving psychological assistance from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) following a serious injury and a series of confrontations with an alleged bully from another class.
According to the boy’s mother, the bullying started as early as September and continued for weeks.
Before the WCED actively stepped in to mediate the matter, the boy’s distressed mother phoned People’s Post on Thursday 23 November, saying: “My 13-year-old son, Eddie*, was assaulted by a fellow learner on Friday 13 October and nothing has been done!”
She started by telling how she fetched Eddie at school on the said Friday around 13:00. “When I pulled into the parking, two learners ran up to my car to advise that Eddie was in a fight and was bleeding. I got to the class and the teacher came out to tell me there was a fight, but it was not Eddie’s fault.”
The teacher allegedly apologised and asked the mother to seek medical attention for Eddie’s injuries.
“When I saw my son, his lip was bleeding and split open and he had also been bitten on his left hand. I immediately took him to the MediCross in Pinelands where he was treated for a lacerated lip and puncture wounds of the bites on his hand.”
She said the doctor advised her to get a J88 form from the police because it was a very serious injury. “Eddie had to be given a tetanus injection, and two sets of oral anti-biotics as well as anti-biotic ointment for the puncture wounds on his fingers. The doctor told me to monitor the wound on his hand, as she said if it became infected, the infection would spread rapidly, and Eddie could lose his hand.”
When the mother returned home, she e-mailed her son’s teacher, and copied the principal, to advise that her son was okay and inquired about steps going forward.
The teacher responded the same evening and advised that the matter would be dealt speedily and in accordance with the school’s disciplinary procedure and Code of Conduct.
The mother continued in great detail that for six weeks, “the matter has not been dealt with in line with the school’s disciplinary code, and the department’s anti-bullying campaign”.
On Friday 28 October, in discussions with the principal, she discovered the alleged bully Adam* only received a Friday afternoon detention for the assault on Eddie as a measure of discipline. When she questioned the punishment meted out to the bully, the mother said she felt a lack of professionalism, empathy and compassion from the school and “basically made me feel like I was making a big deal out of nothing.”
Additionally, the mother was also disappointed that Adam’s parents had not reached out by that time to apologise or consolidate the ongoing conflict between the boys or to compensate for the medical costs.
As days passed to the end of October, Eddie had a friend from school over at his mom’s house in which more predating alleged abuse surfaced.
“His friend told me that Adam had apparently choked him at school, to the point where he passed out. Eddie then told me that the same thing happened to him… I remembered Eddie coming home with a bruise on the side of his jawline and neck in September and when I asked him about it, he told me that he had fallen at school.”
Something told her that her boy was not giving her the whole story, but she knew it would eventually come out.
“On Sunday afternoon 29 October, after we had dropped the friend at home, I questioned Eddie about the choking incident.
He told me that it happened in the boys’ bathroom during dress rehearsals for a school concert.
“Apparently Adam’s hanger fell on the ground and Eddie accidentally trod on it and the hanger broke. This prompted Adam to pull the tie that Eddie had around his neck so tight, that caused him to get dizzy. He then told me that he woke up on the ground, and was told by the other boys in the bathroom that he had ‘spazzed out’ and was shaking on the ground. I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”
The mother sent another e-mail to the school and requested to urgently meet with the teachers the following day.
This escalated to the mother finally being invited for a meeting at the school on Friday 24 November with the Department’s District Circuit Manager in attendance, in addition to the school principal, and others. However, both Adam’s parents were absent due to work commitments.
WCED Responds to the Allegations
Responding to the claims, Bronagh Hammond, the spokesperson for the WCED, said: “While we cannot go into the records and details of this case due to the protection of privacy of these learners, I can confirm that the WCED has intervened in the matter.”
She confirmed that the district had scheduled a meeting with the principal, and parents of both learners on Friday 24 November.
“While [Adam’s] parents were unable to make it due to work commitments, [Eddie’s mother] was there and an open discussion was had. While the school had dealt with the issue with the information they had at the time, new information came to light during this meeting which will be acted upon.”
According to the district, the meeting was a success with the matter being clarified and resolved, Hammond continued, saying: “An email reflecting satisfaction of the outcome of the meeting by [Eddie’s parent] was received by the principal and district. The district had also arranged for a psychologist to see the child.”
Eddie’s mother wrote to the department indicating that it went well and thanking the department for their intervention.
The Final Say
Following a second meeting with the school principal, District Circuit Manager and all parents in attendance, Eddie’s mother concluded her final sentiments, saying: “I understand we don’t live in a perfect world, that the principal and department let Eddie down. But they made up for it in that they were humble in their apology to me. They also apologised to Eddie, because he was the victim.”
She accepted the school and department’s apology, “but as much as I wanted to blame the school and the department, I also need to put the blame on the parents of the child that assaulted Eddie. And I think that, as parents, we are quick to blame the school and department when something happens, but we as parents also fail to take responsibility for our children and their actions.”
The People’s Post reached out to Adam’s mother who refrained from providing comment.
“After the meeting, I considered the matter dealt with and we agreed to pay the medical bill.”
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of the learners.
