Fears over school services as boy head-butts teacher

FOLLOWING a vicious assault by a child on the principal of a Limerick primary school, teachers union INTO warned of further classroom violence if back-up educational services are cut.

Geraldine Wallace, principal of St Mary’s Boys School, was assaulted earlier this week by a boy who comes from a large family.

She sustained a broken nose when she was head-butted.

No legal action, however, can be taken against the boy due to his age. It is not known if he has been allowed back to the school, which caters for about 100 boys.

Many of the school’s pupils are from the troubled St Mary’s Park which is one of the estates designated under the Limerick Regeneration scheme.

Joe Lyons, spokesman for the INTO in Limerick, said: “This was a very serious incident and very upsetting for everybody in the entire school community. Schools are seen as places of safe haven and an oasis of calm. And there is great shock when some incident like this occurs.

“It is totally out of place in the school environment.”

Mr Lyons said Ms Wallace and St Mary’s Boys school have a brilliant record for the work they do in communities which have many social problems.

“The vast majority of the parents of the pupils there are extremely supportive of the school and Ms Wallace and what happened was an isolated incident. We should not forget all the wonderful things that are being done at this school.”

Mr Lyons said the incident should bring renewed focus on the consequences of austerity measures being brought into schools, which will see up to 2,000 special needs assistants being let go.

He said: “If you have a child who has emotional and behavioural problems, then you need these resources and the back up the special needs assistants give. If those supports are withdrawn then there will be more incidents like this. This incident brings home the need for proper psychological services for children with emotional problems. As it is the schools psychological services are run on a skeleton budget.”

Mr Lyons said their thoughts were with Ms Wallace and her family over what had occurred.

“It is well-known that Geraldine Wallace has a huge commitment to that entire community and does marvellous work both inside and outside the school.

“Social problems don’t stop at the front gate when children arrive at class and teachers have often to deal with social issues in very trying circumstances,” Mr Lyons added.