Editorial: School failed to protect pupils

Grazes, bumps and bruises are a part of growing up. The world would be a poorer place if kids were not able to climb trees, and occasionally fall out of them, run into each other on the sports field and devise impromptu games of physical contact in school playgrounds, The Dominion Post writes.

But there is a world of difference between the everyday rough and tumble of the playground and vicious bullying that is intended to frighten and humiliate its victim. It is a difference that parents at Hutt Valley High School are wondering whether the school's authorities have the wit to see.

On December 7 last year, the school was told of an incident in which a 14-year-old pupil allegedly had his pants pulled down and was violated with an object at the school. Acting principal Steve Chapman stood down six boys but did not refer the case to the board, a precursor to suspension or expulsion.

Nor did he alert the police or the Education Ministry.

"It wasn't an assault where somebody had blood spilt," he said later.

He also said the most serious allegations had not been substantiated.

But it should be a grave concern to him, as it is to parents, that when the police investigated, after being alerted by the boy's mother, they uncovered allegations of serious attacks against at least four other pupils by the same group of boys.

Some of the victims said they had had their pants ripped off and that a variety of objects had been used in the alleged attacks, including cellphones, scissors, a shoe and calculators.

As a result five 13-year-old boys have been referred to the Family Court and a 14-year-old is to appear in the Youth Court in Lower Hutt.

That is as it should be. This is not the Victorian era of Tom Brown's Schooldays when younger students' "fags" were routinely beaten, robbed and roasted (literally in the fictional Tom Brown's case) by their older schoolmates.

School is a place where parents send their children to learn and to learn how to mix with their peers. In their absence, they rely upon teachers to act in their stead.

The fact that parents of some Hutt Valley High students are now shopping around for other schools for their children, and that Education Minister Chris Carter has asked for a report on pupil safety at the school, should tell Mr Chapman, and board chairwoman Susan Pilbrow - who has defended his actions - they are out of touch with community expectations.

The fact that police have initiated court action against the six attackers should tell them they have underplayed a serious situation.

Parents expect their children to come home from school with the odd bump and bruise.

They don't expect them to come home worried about being "bum-raped" as reported by one mother who is looking for another school for her children.

The acting principal and the board have work to do to restore community confidence in a school that till recently has enjoyed a good reputation. They should start by implementing a zero-tolerance policy against bullying and acknowledging that their initial response to the events of last December was woefully inadequate.

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