Janet
16-02-2009, 07:39 AM
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25059945-421,00.html
Bullied students threaten to shoot schoolyard thugs
STUDENTS are being severely bullied at a rate of more than eight a week in New South Wales, pushing some victims to threaten to shoot their tormentors.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal a Year 9 boy warned his high school he had reached breaking point after weeks of bullying.
The victim threatened to bring a firearm to school and kill the four bullies, documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph under Freedom of Information show.
Serious incident reports released by the Department of Education and Training show 346 bullying-related incidents were recorded during four school terms to September last year.
Most victims are teenage students but the reports reveal parents, teachers and intruders are also involved in the most serious cases.
At a public high school in the state's west, the Year 9 victim who threatened to shoot other students told the principal he "cannot take any more".
"The (victim) allegedly told the students that if they did not stop he would bring in a gun to school and kill them,'' the incident report said.
Police were called and the victim was given counselling.
On the Central Coast, a 16-year-old male student believed to have been bullied by others also threatened to get a gun and go on a "shooting spree".
At another secondary school in western NSW, a Year 7 girl complained that a male student had been bullying her - alleging he threatened to pour petrol over her and a Year 7 male, setting them alight.
He also threatened to get a gun and shoot them.
In Sydney's southwest, a Year 8 student was battered into semi-consciousness during an attack by two former students on his way home.
In another case, a Year 9 male student was allegedly lured to an out-of-bounds area and assaulted by an adult in retribution for past bullying.
The victim was taken to hospital.
Yesterday, Education Minister Verity Firth warned that bullying had to be tackled by the whole community.
"I encourage students who have been bullied to speak out and report it," she said.
Incident reports show bullying is not confined to students.
In the Parramatta area, a male teacher lost his temper during a "mix-up in faculty procedures".
The teacher pointed his finger at the other teacher and "made a specific threat to harm the teacher".
Bullied students threaten to shoot schoolyard thugs
STUDENTS are being severely bullied at a rate of more than eight a week in New South Wales, pushing some victims to threaten to shoot their tormentors.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal a Year 9 boy warned his high school he had reached breaking point after weeks of bullying.
The victim threatened to bring a firearm to school and kill the four bullies, documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph under Freedom of Information show.
Serious incident reports released by the Department of Education and Training show 346 bullying-related incidents were recorded during four school terms to September last year.
Most victims are teenage students but the reports reveal parents, teachers and intruders are also involved in the most serious cases.
At a public high school in the state's west, the Year 9 victim who threatened to shoot other students told the principal he "cannot take any more".
"The (victim) allegedly told the students that if they did not stop he would bring in a gun to school and kill them,'' the incident report said.
Police were called and the victim was given counselling.
On the Central Coast, a 16-year-old male student believed to have been bullied by others also threatened to get a gun and go on a "shooting spree".
At another secondary school in western NSW, a Year 7 girl complained that a male student had been bullying her - alleging he threatened to pour petrol over her and a Year 7 male, setting them alight.
He also threatened to get a gun and shoot them.
In Sydney's southwest, a Year 8 student was battered into semi-consciousness during an attack by two former students on his way home.
In another case, a Year 9 male student was allegedly lured to an out-of-bounds area and assaulted by an adult in retribution for past bullying.
The victim was taken to hospital.
Yesterday, Education Minister Verity Firth warned that bullying had to be tackled by the whole community.
"I encourage students who have been bullied to speak out and report it," she said.
Incident reports show bullying is not confined to students.
In the Parramatta area, a male teacher lost his temper during a "mix-up in faculty procedures".
The teacher pointed his finger at the other teacher and "made a specific threat to harm the teacher".