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Teacher speaks out against culture of bullying
A TEACHER has told the St Helens Star how a cowardly attack by bullies on a pupil just because he was different' has been ignored by her head teacher.
She claims the culture of bullying at her primary school has driven her to the end of her tether.
Following the attack on the 10-year-old boy by a gang of playground thugs on Thursday, April 10, the teacher, who has asked not to be named, said the youngster was so badly beaten that he had a shoe print stamped on his arm.
She explained: "My head teacher simply refused to do anything about it and would not see the parents. The boy was punched and kicked to the ground. I couldn't believe that it was happening in our school and it was being ignored. In this school if someone is slightly different, such as not wearing certain things, they are picked on.
"The victim is a very personable young lad, but different from the others. I know that if he was at other schools, he would make countless friends, but he's been a target here for a while. The boy will be starting secondary school in September and making new friends.
"There are other schools in the borough where children's differences are celebrated. But here it is swept under the carpet. It's not nice to be identified with a place where this is happening."
The teacher's fears are reflected in the concerns by many parents across the town.
The shocking story of one girl's attempted suicide drew sympathetic responses from Star readers, many of whom were the victims of bullying and some whose children are currently being victimised.
One who posted a message on the Star's website under the name PB said: "I have a son with special needs who has had several years of hell in mainstream schools because of bullies and we couldn't get anything done. In the end he was diagnosed with autism and thankfully placed in a special school that understood his condition. Bullying is a huge problem that no one wants to tackle or even talk about."
Ex Bullied Victim from Sutton also wrote: "I was bullied right thoughout my school life and at the time I thought the whole world was against me, I hated every moment."
8:40am Thursday 8th May 2008
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