Claims school ignores bully reports

Parents of students at Mt Tarampa State School outside of Ipswich are concerned teachers are ignoring claims of bullying.

File photo

BULLYING is so out of control at a small rural school that parents are threatening to pull their children out while some have already done so.

One child was so badly terrorised at Mt Tarampa State School, about 40km north-west of Ipswich, that after years of bullying his mother pulled him out of the school.

Kathrine Rodgers said she was so concerned about her nine-year-old son being abused that she reported the incidents to the school repeatedly - but his ordeal continued for two years.

“He was being bullied and harassed constantly,” Ms Rodgers said. “One time he even got hit with a star picket in the middle of his back.”

The turning point for Ms Rodgers was when her son, who was in year four at the time, was punched repeatedly.

Ms Rodgers said she reported the incidents but little was done.

After witnessing more students being bullied at the school she has gained the courage to support other parents in their fight to stop the bullying.

A teacher, who cannot be named, worked at the school for more than a year and described the classrooms as “out of control”.

The teacher said she left after a year because her concerns fell on “deaf ears”.

“Some of the students should be expelled or suspended because they are out of control,” she said.

“There are students at that school who shouldn't be there because their behaviour is unacceptable and disruptive to other children and they need more support than is available.”

Another parent, who asked not to be named, said her two sons aged 10 and 8 were constantly being bullied and victimised at the school.

“They are getting beaten up on a regular basis and they are absolutely petrified of going to school,” she said.

“They get their hair pulled, stomach punched and kicked and it doesn't matter how many times I tell the school nothing changes.”

But she is confident with a bit of help she can make the school a safer environment for her children.

“I have them crying and pleading with me every day to not make them go to school but my only hope is that things will change,” she said.

No one from Education Queensland was available to comment yesterday.

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