Cops called in bully row

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

I don't know, being 'abused' by younger people is rather pathetic , but that's no excuse for bullying.

A CRIMINAL charge has been laid against a Grade 10 pupil at a top Cape Town school for throwing a cup of hot coffee at a fellow pupil, who is being treated in hospital for burns.

But prosecutors today declined to continue with legal proceedings after hearing that the Grade 10 pupil had been relentlessly bullied by a group of boys for months.

Wynberg Boys' High School headmaster Keith Richardson confirmed today that the incident had occurred on Thursday at the school's boarding house during supper.

"It was an altercation between two boys," he reported.

"A Grade 10 pupil had been teased for quite a number of months by a group of Grade 8s.

"Then, the Grade 10 pupil was given a scarf by his nine-year-old sister. The Grade 8s took his scarf and teased him.

"One of the (Grade 8) boys burned the scarf and gave it back to him. The Grade 10 boy lost it completely and threw a cup of coffee over the boy."

The Grade 8 pupil was taken to hospital, where he was treated for second degree burns, apparently to his back.

The school is also counselling the Grade 10 pupil.

"He had no idea of the serious ramifications - he just thought he'd get rid of his tormentor," Richardson explained.

He said the school had not known about the alleged relentless teasing, and he believed the Grade 10 pupil had been embarrassed to report that he was being tormented by boys who were his junior.

"He didn't want to tell anyone. He bottled it up - and then lost it, as a boy can do, as an adult can do," Richardson said.

While the school tried to manage the falloutt, matters became more serious when the parents of the Grade 8 boy laid criminal charges against the Grade 10 pupil.

The police were apparently poised to arrest the Grade 10 pupil, but the school has been trying to help resolve the matter.

Richardson was at Wynberg police station this morning meeting prosecutors and the police to try to ensure that the Grade 10 boy was not locked behind bars.

Shortly before midday today, Richardson reported that the school had briefed a social worker about the case - in particular about how the Grade 10 pupil had been victimised.

"There are two victims here - the boy who was burnt and the boy who was teased," Richardson reported.

As a result, he said the social worker had advised the prosecutor not to proceed, and the case was instead referred to a social worker.

Richardson said it would be up to the school to handle the situation.

He said bullying had always happened in most schools, and said the case was about a "boy losing his temper - and nothing more than that".

"He's learned a hell of a lesson," he said of the Grade 10 boy.

The school's lawyer, Barry Jessop, said the Grade 10 boy was "very remorseful".

Richardson added that the Grade 8 pupils were also going to have to "realise the ramifications of bullying".

Source: Cape Argus

 

[Flanders]

Eish. In my day the younger okes would've received a "nasty accidental fall down the stairs" long before hot beverages became involved (not that I'd ever encountered junior students picking on someone in a more senior year in the first place).

Once upon a time there was an unwritten rule stating that nobody ever messed with a senior student, no matter what.

Having said that, it doesn't make what happened right in any way, regardless of hierarchy. The problem is that bullying has, and always will exist. In my opinion, standing up for one's self long before the issue spirals out of control is usually the way to go.

 

[Alan]

Eish. In my day the younger okes would've received a "nasty accidental fall down the stairs" long before hot beverages became involved (not that I'd ever encountered junior students picking on someone in a more senior year in the first place).

Once upon a time there was an unwritten rule stating that nobody ever messed with a senior student, no matter what.

Having said that, it doesn't make what happened right in any way, regardless of hierarchy. The problem is that bullying has, and always will exist. In my opinion, standing up for one's self long before the issue spirals out of control is usually the way to go.

Yeah along with red marks in the shape of knuckles as proof of the fall:erm:

 

[smokey]

Good. He stood up for himself. Rather a brutal way to do it too. That Grade 8 sure learnt a lesson.

 

[Kosmik]

It's always the quiet ones

But seriously, the little sh** got what was coming to them. They should be grateful it was only coffee and not something a lot more serious. And to the parents who layed a charge, so it's allright if your kid bullies another but when he gets hurt in the backfire, you now want to give the victim a criminal record? Deserves a good hiding.

No I aint PC

 

[Fudzy]

What were the Grade 8s doing with lighters?

 

[Kosmik]

What were the Grade 8s doing with lighters?

Play with fire, you get .....