A Mosgiel parent is concerned about the safety of her 15-year-old son, who has been the victim of continued text bullying and physical assaults in the past year, despite Taieri College's best efforts to stop it.
"People were jumping on him and his school bag. That's how it started. After that, he had a barrage of offensive texts from other pupils threatening to hurt him or kill his dog."
Taieri College principal Christina Herrick declined to comment when contacted yesterday. The 15-year-old's family had laid several complaints with the school, the boy's mother said.
"The school has a firm policy on preventing bullying. I've expressed my concerns and they've always listened, but the actions they have taken have not been effective. They keep assuring me that the bullying will stop but it hasn't. Every parent relies on their school to create a safe environment for their children."
The parent, who declined to be named, said pupils would often throw things at her son, who had been ostracised from school life. He was badly beaten by pupils on school grounds on Tuesday, and that had been the final straw, she said.
Her son had vowed not to return to the school.
"I got a phone call from him while I was at work. He was in tears because he had been beaten . . . badly enough to tear his shirt and give him concussion."
She contacted Dunedin police about the incident but was told nothing could be done unless her son made a formal complaint. He would not go to police because he feared the consequences, she said.
"He used to be such a bubbly, out-going person. He loved to tell jokes. But now he's devoid of emotion."
She believed bullying had become an accepted culture among pupils at the school, and was sickened by three videos posted on the YouTube website, allegedly of pupils fighting at the school.
"It makes me sick."
She was angry pupils would choose to video fights on mobile phones instead of stopping them. The boy's family is now exploring other schools in Dunedin at which to enrol him.
Attempts to contact a board of trustees' representative last night were unsuccessful.
