This is the Message Centre for HonestIago

Stabbing

Post 1

HonestIago

Had a rather unpleasant incident at work today: a little Year 8 (12-13 years old) lad was stabbed for no apparent reason. Kid had the back of his leg slashed

I get on the radio, call for immediate assistance and try and get a translator for the kid because he doesn't speak much English and he was rather understandably a little upset. A couple of members of senior staff come over - one b****cks me for the radio call! The other sends the kid back to class while they try and round up his attacker who had long done a runner.

I'm giving serious thought about going to the press as the school seems to be doing its best to cover it up. I'd kinda accepted that when staff are assaulted, they'd turn a blind eye, as happened with me a few months back, but one of the pupils brings a knife to school and uses it to stab a defenseless kid for no discernible reason and they do nothing? That just seems totally beyond the pale.

I'm just glad I'll almost certainly be handing my notice in when September rolls around: couldn't even get 15 minutes with the head to talk about my future at the school. So the school is losing their link to universities which they desperately need.


Stabbing

Post 2

taliesin

>>..one b****cks me for the radio call! The other sends the kid back to class..<<

WTF?


First off, the slashed kid gets immediate professional medical attention, even it it's a scratch. Second, this is an assault - with a weapon - causing bodily harm, even if it's only a scratch ---- the kid does not go back to class until after he's seen by a doctor and the police are on scene. The senior staff who sent the kid back to class was wrong to do so.

Also, I dearly hope you told the smiley - bleep who had the gall to berate you exactly where, how and when he could shove it!

smiley - grr


Stabbing

Post 3

HonestIago

My initial response was to tell the guy never to come into my office shouting again. The I reminded him that previous calls for assistance from senior staff have been ignored and I wanted to ensure I had their attention.


Stabbing

Post 4

taliesin

smiley - applause

Clearly you have more restraint than I am capable of smiley - erm

smiley - cheers


Stabbing

Post 5

HonestIago

Wasn't quite as restrained as I would have liked though I think having the blood of a prepubescent on my suit is a decent enough excuse for swearing at the guy.


Stabbing

Post 6

psychocandy-moderation team leader

That sounds like a horrible experience, and it doesn't sound to me like some of those people handled the situation at all correctly. I hope the poor little guy is OK? How on earth will they handle the attacker?


Stabbing

Post 7

HonestIago

Just found out the lad who did the stabbing is in my tutor group. His parents are coming in for a chat later on today.
At the moment, it doesn't look like he'll even be expelled.

Victim is alright, though he had to have stitches. Apparently mum and dad called the police so something might happen there.


Stabbing

Post 8

Edward the Bonobo - Gone.

Won't look good for the school if they're seen to have made light of an incident serious enough to get the police's attention.


Stabbing

Post 9

Ivan the Terribly Average

smiley - stiffdrink This is just horrid.

Iago, this school's management sounds like it needs a bit of an airing in the tabloids, at the very least...


Stabbing

Post 10

psychocandy-moderation team leader

If I were in the administration there, I'd seriously consider expelling the stabber. What on earth are those people thinking?

I'm sorry you have to work in such an environment, Iago, but those kids are fortunate to have someone like you on their side.


Stabbing

Post 11

Edward the Bonobo - Gone.

Seeing it from the school's pov...

I guess there's an ethos that while stabbing someone is A Bad Idea...carrying knives and getting into trouble are what kids tend to do. Chances are that, with help, they'll grow out of it. Their chances are reduced, however, if they're put into the legal system.

*On the other hand* The combination of kids getting into trouble *involving knives* is a very serious one, and it should not be within the school's remit to act as arbiters.

In Scotland at least, we have something of a half-way house between the penal system and childcare. A school would certainly be expected to inform the police of an incident like this. Some incidents may be refered directly to the Children's Panel. For a case of this severity...it would almost certainly be addressed by a court - although the Sheriff may exercise the option of refering to a Children's Panel for advise on disposal.


Key: Complain about this post

More Conversations for HonestIago

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more