Suspended boy 'returns' to school

adriana.chircop

Mar 6th 2010, 07:40

i do not think that this boy is completely to blame..I mean let's face it he is not ( or was not) in the right state of mind at that moment when he grabbed the craft knife. I think he wanted to make a point and no body would listen so in order to be heard he threatened with a knife.... most probably he is abused at home or he sees someone at home being abused in a very similar matter. Now our concern is how can we help him realize that what he did was very bad indeed and in no circumstance he can repeat a similar act!!! I would start blaming adults firstly as they should have more sense not to leave any dangerous material lying around the school...

j grech

Mar 5th 2010, 22:58

where were the parents/guardians, how come the boy was allowed to roam and re-enter the school, at nine and with behaviour problems he should be supervised constantly, the parents/guardian should be made to attend parenting class or be taken to court for neglect, if the parents and social services are not working together what chance has this child for a future free of crime? and if the parents are working against the social services and the school then he should be put under a secure care order, other country`s have boarding schools for out of parential control children, where they have a secure and disciplined enviroment with expert medical help on hand, weekly visits from family at the school usually after mass on a sunday untill they earn the right to visit the family home on a once weekly basis, if this child is disrupting the class then he is depriving the other children their right to an education,under his human rights he is entitled to the special help he needs but the other children are also entitled to their human rights to an education, and the teacher has rights as in seeking a safe working enviroment

victor pulis

Mar 5th 2010, 16:34

An MUT statement said that this incident where teachers are attacked by students is not an isolated case but teachers and school administrations frequently keep these incidents under wraps in order not to exacerbate the situation. This is a feather in the cap of the teachers concerned but what would happen if the victim is another student? The parents would not be so tolerant and a very serious sitution would result. And of course no prizes for guessing who gets the blame.

G.Schembri

Mar 5th 2010, 15:12

Was the child being assisted by a qualified LSA? Was the LSA being supported by other professionals? Since the child had a LSA he must have been statemented, so the educational division must have known about his difficulties. The problem is not the child but the system. This is something the MUT has been asking for, it is no use assigning a LSA to a child if the appropriate support is not given. Up to my knowlege in Malta we have many educational officials who visit a child just once and expect the school to perform miracles. It is not only the child who needs reassessment but the whole inclusion system. Professionals should not be spending their time in offices but supporting the teachers and LSAs and visiting them at school.

lgalea

Mar 5th 2010, 14:08

L Sant You are right. What if he attacks other students?

RFarrugia

Mar 5th 2010, 13:53

Was the child sent to school by his parents? If so the police need to make another visit....

Vincent Borg

Mar 5th 2010, 13:49

The boy needs help, so before decipline, one have to check his social background
for a stitch in time saves nine.

yana micallef stafrace

Mar 5th 2010, 13:18

Always lovely to see so many people passing judgment without knowing any of the facts except by hearsay especially when the person in question is a nine year old child.

L Sant

Mar 5th 2010, 13:13

Whilst agreeing with J Azzopardi in that the boy's problems are likely to be culminations of negative influence from adults/parents/guardians in his immediate environment, at 9 a child most certainly already understands as to what is permissible and what is not within a social context. And overstepping the line at this age or so, indicates most often than not a purposeful desire to one's actions. Of course, his background should be looked into etc, but only discipline, strictest of discipline would mold his still relatively malleable mindset into socially-adaptive forms. Otherwise I can bet my 2 cents that by 19 as Franco Farrugia speculated, the boy will be a yet another "social case" with a "voluminous criminal record", having a handful of probation sentences behind his back.

Forget counselling -- that helps only to those seeking it -- discipline and nothing but discipline. His parents or whatever must also be held accountable. If anything, it's they who need counselling....and probably another social welfare cheque....

J Azzopardi

Mar 5th 2010, 12:30

@ Chris Mifsud and R Azzopardi - The last thing this boy needs is your comments. Shame on you both.

We are speaking of a 9 year old. Whichever problems he may have, unless it is a health issue, are caused by adults who should know better. He can hardly be expected to be fully responsible. If he becomes the criminal described by Chris Mifsud it will be our doing not his. He is sending out signals, dramatic as these might be, but it's up to adults to collect and act upon those signals.

Franco Farrugia

Mar 5th 2010, 11:55

I have previously commented about this matter and said that this boy needs more counselling and professional help, than discipline. Now, it appears that this boy needs a bit more than jsut counselling. He also needs to have his family background checked. I mean: behavioural problems at the age of 9 ... what's going to happen when he is 19? There is a potential criminal, here, more than ever. This matter has to be taken seriously in order to HELP this young boy. HELP - is the aim!

Chris Mifsud

Mar 5th 2010, 10:55

This boy belongs in a special school where he can recieve counceling for his behaviour problems.

This is a very very serious case, as in if he remains like this or gets worse, god forbid what he will be like by the time he is 16 years old (in only 7 years time).

By age 16 he will probably already have been in and out of prison quite a few times.

R. Azzopardi

Mar 5th 2010, 10:39

What a cheeky little bugger.