A mother in New Zealand is enraged after discovering that her seven-year-old son’s mouth was taped shut for talking too much in class. Not the only child who has experienced this form of punishment, she is demanding an explanation – and change. (1)
Boy’s Mouth Taped Shut At New Zealand School
Every parent sends their children to school expecting that they will be treated fairly and with respect, even when they misbehave. This is why this New Zealand mom is so upset at the way her son’s teacher punished him for talking too much in class: By having his mouth taped shut. (1)
The incident, which took place at Colwill School in West Auckland, didn’t just happen to her son. According to the school, it is a game that this teacher plays with the students that they appear to enjoy. Having his mouth taped shut was anything but enjoyable for this little boy. It traumatized him so badly that he missed the last two weeks of the school year, including the annual Christmas concert. (1)
“I’m just absolutely appalled that a teacher would do something like this,” the mom said. (1)
She explains that she found out through her daughter, who also goes to the school because her son was too ashamed to tell her. Her daughter found out on the playground through a classmate of the little boy. (2)
The boy, who also suffers from breathing problems, is now experiencing high levels of anxiety about returning to school next term. (1)
The School’s Comment
The mother called the school to complain as soon as she found out, however, she did not go through the formal complaint process set out by the school. Feeling that the school wasn’t acting quick enough, she stood outside of the school and handed out pamphlets on the incident. She also spoke to other parents to get their support. (1)
Colwill School principal Rob Taylor insists that the school took the complaint seriously, but that interviewing all the necessary people involved takes time. He sent a letter to the parent on December 11th explaining this and that a thorough investigation has occurred. (1)
“All children involved and their parents, excluding [student], have now been interviewed appropriately by the school’s Social Worker who informs me that [staff member’s] perspective that this was game [sic] that the children appeared to enjoy and wished to play with her was by all accounts the correct version of this event.” he wrote. (1)
He told the mother that the Ministry of Education is offering the boy counseling to help ease his anxieties about returning to school. The letter also included a statement from the teacher involved, who wrote:
“I am very upset by what has happened and very sorry to [the student] and [the parents] for causing upset to your family.” (2)
The police and the school board are now investigating the situation further. (1)
An Apology In Order
Beyond the fact that this happened in the first place, the mother is most about how long it took for the school – most specifically the teacher – to apologize. (2)
“I asked my 7-year-old what he thought about all this, and he said: ‘When we do something wrong in class we have to say sorry and that we won’t do it again, why can’t the teacher?’” she said. (2)
The family is now waiting to see what comes out of the investigations. If their dissatisfaction is still there, they will file an official complaint through the ministry’s local office. The principal of Colwill School has not yet commented on the status of the teacher in question’s employment. (1)
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