 |
IAN and Barb Ferguson say enough is enough.:
Their sons have been the victims of bullying for too long and they want the problem addressed.Photo:
|
|
| :: Advertisement :: |
|
No banner in farm
|
|
|
|
‘School is turning blind eye to abuse’
THE parents of two small boys who have been the victims of school bullying for years in Griffith claim their calls to have the problem dealt with have fallen on deaf ears.
Barb and Ian Ferguson say their sons are the targets of verbal and physical abuse and are finally speaking out to put an end to the daily attacks. “I’m angry and I’m sick and tired of no-one listening. Enough is enough,” Mrs Ferguson said.
“We should feel confident our children are being taught in a safe environment, but that’s not the case here. This has been going on for too long.
“My children have been pushed into brick walls, tripped, called names and even choked with a hat cord.”
According to the couple, repeated calls for action have been ignored by Griffith North Public School. Their oldest son, who is in Year 5, has experienced bullying since Kindergarten.
“This has been going on for years, and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve taken it up with the principal. I’ve written a letter to the education department and even been to the police,” Mrs Ferguson said.
“My boys walk to my work after school. And lately the bully has been threatening to bash them.
“The school just tells me if I’m so concerned with their safety, I should pick them up. But why should I have to change our routine because of one bully.
“My son’s grades have dropped drastically and he doesn’t want to go to school.
“I feel the school is taking the wrong approach. My son has even been kept inside at playtime for his own protection while the bully gets to go out and play. I feel like this child is being rewarded while mine is suffering.”
Mrs Ferguson said it has reached the stage where she dreads having to approach the school.
“I get butterflies and feel sick when I go to the school now myself, so I can imagine how my kids feel,” she said.
“I know of other children who have been bullied too by the same boy. This is beyond a joke.”
School education director Riverina West John Dowling said he was aware of the complaints made and both the department and Griffith North Public School were taking the issue very seriously.
“Bullying in any form will not be tolerated,” he said.
“In this case bullying has been addressed through the school’s new discipline codes of conduct.
“I’m pleased that this year parents at Griffith North were invited to be involved in the new program and I’m informed that the parents who were involved said they were happy with the new system and optimistic that it offers further benefits.
“In this specific case the school has followed through the complaints and taken appropriate action. I’d encourage Mr and Mrs Ferguson to start dialogue with the principal and I’d be happy to facilitate this through my office.”
For more information about bullying, parents can log on to www.bully
ingnoway.com.au.
|
