Today my husband and I pulled our son out of his primary school.
It’s one of those fancy private schools, with a conspicuous air of exclusivity and wealth. You know the type – big fees, big gates, and parents with big cars (and even bigger pockets). We had eagerly and dutifully placed him on the wait list at birth, and had already coughed up a small fortune to get him through to Year Two.
It was a school that “actively embraced community” and involved parents in all facets of learning. However, it wasn’t long before we discovered that this purported culture of inclusivity meant predatory behaviour by parents, which all too often was tolerated, and even indirectly facilitated, by both teachers and management.
Mothers would hover in the playground at drop off and pick up. They’d sip turmeric lattes at the school café (yep, café), while keeping a close watch over their children as they went about their school day. They’d use reading and volunteering as a guise to spend time observing the classroom dynamics.
Pulling our seven-year-old out of this school wasn’t an easy decision to make – he loved his school, and had lots of friends – and it was a long time coming.
We’d been concerned about a culture of parental bullying towards children of a certain ilk since kindergarten. Those kids who perhaps failed to conform and comply with unwritten norms and molds were ostracised and targeted. “Boisterous kids.” “Energetic kids.” “Boy’s boys” just like our son.
The final straw was a call from the principal after school. He told us that an irate parent had approached our seven-year-old in the playground, and had accused him of pushing his daughter in the classroom.
This father later admitted he’d driven to the school with the sole intention of seeking out our child. He found our son walking out of his classroom and approached him. The details of exactly what happened are unclear. We are relying on grainy security footage and witness accounts from kids and teachers.
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I'm working on moving my son who is eight years old. A father of a little girl in my son's classroom approached my son at a school pinic. My son says they were playing tag. The little girl has been telling my son for some time that her father does not want her to play with my son due to some sort of religious reasons and she is always telling my son that her father will hurt my son. The school doesn't seem to take this matter seriously at all. I have gone to the school district and to child protection agency to investigate the matter. My son says the father approached him and said to him to stay away from his daughter. My son told me he got scared and ranned off. I'm really concerned about my son's safety. I also spoke with my local police office and they told me that if it happens again to call them immediately and they will investigate. I agree if parents have an issue with a child at the school they should address the matter through the school official and meet with the child parents. I'm finding out there are a lot of emotional men who are reacting instead of thinking things through.
I have made myself known to certain children who have made my sons life not very nice . Maybe it isn’t acceptable but I know full well that these children’s parents do not care and that these children are not scared of any disciplinary action that the school can take . I wont apologise for my actions one bit. In saying that I have never yelled or physically touched another child . We live in a very small rural community and what behaviour some of these children’s parents allow in their home is not acceptable or warranted in a school environment .
Oh I was going to write a comment and you have written it for me. WELL SAID and I'm afraid 'me too'. I was so annoyed with a child in Primary School that on the way in to see the Principal I saw the offending child, summoned him over and ticked him off. No shouting, no threats and certainly no physical contact. Just honest firmness. We also were in a small rural community. This child was making my bright son's life a misery. The cause, the offender didn't approve of my son's ears. Oh dear. My son is now a High School teacher himself and he said to me once he will not tolerate any form of bullying, he steps in quickly. The parents of the offender 'couldn't believe their son was making another child miserable' they are so in denial. Others witnessed it, there was no doubt.