Boy, 10, bullied out of school over accent
The boy was injured and regularly reduced to tears because of bullying on the premises. He has also been subjected to cyber-bullying The family moved from South Africa to Kells, Co Meath, in 2010.
His parents took him out of the school after the board of management failed to act to deal with the incidents outside the school.
Gerry Dalton said he had now taken his son out of St Colmcille’s National School for his own protection.
The school declined to comment on the issue.
Mr Dalton said his son had been targeted by several children since he started in October, mainly because of his South African accent. As well as suffering physical injuries, which were logged in a school accident report, the boy has begun displaying signs of an anxiety disorder, his father said.
In February, a concerned parent contacted Mr Dalton to tell him his son was being brought to tears every day due to bullying over his accent. The situation escalated when the family’s house was pelted by eggs, and a Facebook page — reminiscent of the Phoebe Prince case in the US — was set up to taunt the boy.
St Colmcille’s took legal advice that concluded that to invoke sanctions for incidents outside of school — and specifically cyber-bullying — would be “exceeding the school’s remit”.
Last week the school’s board of management wrote to the family saying that it had decided not to take any action in relation to the cyber-bullying.
The board wrote: “It has been clearly and undeniably confirmed that the cyber-activity, related to Facebook, and the allegations or indications of bullying by a defined number of children did not take place during school hours.
“It is therefore not within the remit of the board of management to apply consequences. This is a civil matter for the law enforcement authorities to act upon as they deem appropriate.”
The letter states that both the principal and the board “readily condemn” any bullying behaviour outside the school and that the pupils implicated, and their parents, have been told their behaviour should cease and never be repeated. The board said the school would try and ensure the boy was not bullied while in school.
Gardaí are aware of the case, but cannot take action as the alleged bullies are under 12 and below the age of criminal responsibility.
The National Education Welfare Board said it was aware of the case and was advising the family.
Mr Dalton said he was shocked at the situation his family has found itself in, as they had moved from South Africa for a quiet, peaceful life. “At no stage has anyone enquired as to the wellbeing of our son. He is already trying to modify his accent around home, when we talked to him about it, he said he is trying to get rid of his South African accent to fit in more at school.”
Mr Dalton said it was regrettable the Facebook page was being seen “in isolation” and not as part of the ongoing bullying against his son.
