The mother of a Tauranga Girls' College student who was attacked by fellow students wants to move on, albeit disappointed by the lack of action by the school.
Fay Baylis was attacked while in class at the school in June, following a lunch time altercation between two groups of girls.
She wrote to SunLive about the incident stating, 'two students came down my isle; one grabbed my neck and began to strangle me, trying to smash my head into the desk in front of me. My friend saw the fear in my eyes and tried to get the girl off me; the other girl in the aisle turned to her and punched her in the face.”
Fay's mother, Jill, says it's hard to believe the 'can of worms that got opened” regarding the assault to her daughter and her friends at Tauranga Girls' College.
'I have been overwhelmed, not just with the response of others that have now come forward to air their own experiences, but also for the huge amount of supports offered to us for having the courage to speak out publicly.”
Jill says despite her first wanting justice for the attack, she just wants her daughter to finish the last couple of months at school with as little interruption as possible.
'I hope she looks back on this incident momentarily, to only reflect on the effects of bad management and the consequences which followed,” says Jill.
'Sadly I have to say I have been told nothing, having just one phone call from the principal (Pauline Cowens).
'After five happy years, I want my daughter to leave in a few short months with happy memories of her time at school, not blighted by these bullies or feeling let down by her peers.”
Fay will go on to university and her mother hopes she will have a full and rewarding career to follow.
Jill says ball games are still being played in the area which served as catalyst for the attack and there is still no personal letter of apology received.
She says while she's not happy with the outcome, she will not progress with the issue.
'Let's just hope that this type of incident will not be dealt with correctly and not have to go to the press to make schools sit up and take notice.”
16 comments
What did the cops do?
Posted on 05-07-2011 11:57 | By wreck1080
If the school did nothing, what was the result of the police investigation?
Just children...
Posted on 05-07-2011 12:22 | By dgk
so the cops can't do anything. Not even a wet bus ticket. And as the school hasn't bothered doing anything these kids now know they can do this sort of thing all the time without any repercussion.
Forget the Cops they wont/cant help
Posted on 05-07-2011 13:08 | By Demandthetruth
Jill & Faith have been let down by the system thats gone nuts PC to protect the criminals. Jill & Faith you have a right to be protected & the School is failing good people. I had the same occasion in Australia with my grandson being bullied & no matter what his parents did with the school it continued. You have a right to sue the individuals including the Headnaster & Teachers. Check out the Education Act. You are required by Law to send your child to school. NZ has signed the UN Charter on the rights of the Child; the school also comes under the provosions of Health & Safety Act. You have the right to protect your child & sue for common assault & if the Headteacher or other Teachers fail to act in the case of a criminal act they are in a very precarious position. No different to you knowing a murder had been committed but you said or did nothing - "accessory after the fact?" In Australia I issued notice against all the teachers, headmaster & Minister & Director of Education personally, giving them 7 days to comply. They did not like the summons they received for noncompliance. The headmaster was removed, the teachers were brought into line at the behest of the then Minister & Director of Education. I refused to withdraw my summons until it was ALL done and I had a letter acknowledging. Force the issue you have all the rights. Sunlive have my permission to provide my email to you
Jill Baylis
Posted on 05-07-2011 13:30 | By jillbaylis
The police have taken the correct procedure with this incident.Allowing school the chance of putting their house in order.I have been kept informed by Richard from Greerton police station and took the stance of not wanting to press charges,leaving school to deal with this, and hopefully to have learnt from the incident that people do have a voice and will express publicly if justice is not seen to be done .
@jillbayliss
Posted on 05-07-2011 14:12 | By morepork
You have restrained yourself admirably during a difficult time. The real issue here is not about punishment (that sorts out ONE instance; it doesn't stop other instances occurring...), it is about getting the attitudes that condone this behaviour changed. I understand you want a quiet life for your daughter for the short time she must remain at this school and I don't blame you. But the problem remains. The school is NOT dealing with handling diversity and the impacts of different cultures. The head is ultimately responsible and she should be looking for a wider dialogue with all parties. Instead, she is trying to sweep problems under the carpet and muzzle dissenting voices. Take a look at the proposals suggested for solving this problem which were published on the blog at: http://www.sunlive.co.nz/blogs/1397-bully-you.html (You may need to cut and paste this address into your browser). I can't believe you are the only concerned parent at this school and if the Head won't take action, then the Parents should. Is there no PTA? Can you lobby the School Board, along with other parents? They may ignore ONE parent or instance and hope it goes away, but they CAN'T if a number of parents all demand action. This is just a bad business for everybody concerned, but that is all the more reason why it should be addressed, and a proper headmistress who is capable of creating a positive multi-cultural culture (not just favouring one faction) should be installed. You shouldn't have to endure this on your own. Get other parents involved and make the school realise it is a service to the community, not a law unto itself.
Tga Girls College is dogdy as
Posted on 05-07-2011 14:17 | By Tracie
My daughter is year 9 at that school. It has been the worst ever year of her schooling years to date. I have even contemplated moving her to another school. The lack of dicipline and punishment in that school is laughable. Instead of having a cry over a child hair or how many earring they have in their ears, how about knocking this bullying in butt before the school finds itself empty and the worst reputation possible. Pull your finger out your Bums Tga Girls College or you'll be less alot more students next yr.
Mongrels & Wimps
Posted on 05-07-2011 14:45 | By Hebegeebies
Of course the Police can do something.Lay an official complaint with them for the assault it will at least have to go to the Youth Court.Just because Tauranga Girls College poobahs don't have the backbone to deal with it that should not be the end of it.Just do it !!The more publicity the better expose the culture and the weak kneed staff.
principal must go
Posted on 05-07-2011 15:27 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Her inaction has ruined the reputation of that school more than the thugs
Principal needs to go
Posted on 05-07-2011 16:47 | By justice
It seems this school is a law unto itself. some serious changes are needed. where is the board of trustee's
grandma
Posted on 05-07-2011 16:58 | By sunrise
no one in the family found out that our granddaughter had been bullied at TGC until after she left (2 years ago). It included girls holding her down and cutting her long hair short.
Deal with the bullies
Posted on 05-07-2011 18:12 | By Justintime
Time for a change. Unfortunately my daughter is also at Tauranga Girls College. In all her school days she has never been this unhappy as she is at Taurange Girls College. It is hard to watch as a parent and when you do approach the school it is not dealt with at the top. Bullies have to dealt once and for all. Pauline take note and do something about the bullies or move on. Get your head out of the sand
Disgusting
Posted on 05-07-2011 18:48 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
I can't believe kids get away with such things! and I know that my girls will definitely NOT be attending THAT school. Far too many kids commit suicide because of bullying and schools are to blame for not providing a SAFE ENVIRONMENT for them! Don't give up concerned parents.. think of the future of our kids and how much more hideous it is now than when WE went to school!
Restraining Order
Posted on 05-07-2011 18:58 | By mr mizprint
My step-daughter goes to TGC, the administration seems to be overly anal & petty, they take a zero tolarance approach to uniform compliance. Yet they wont deal with the dirty laundry with regards to bullying. It appears they are obsessed about keeping up appearences. If your kids are subject to bullying & the school fobs you off, forget the school & forget the cops. Apply for a Restraining Order under the Harrassment Act 1997 through the District Court. The bully will effectively be expelled from the school as they cant be in the vicinity of the person protected, otherwise they will be in breach of the order.
”..not dealt with at the top…”
Posted on 05-07-2011 19:42 | By SpeakUp
'On one level they are overly anal & petty, they take a zero tolerance approach to uniform compliance. Yet they won't deal with the dirty laundry with regards to bullying…” Could it be that original bullies are obsessed about keeping up appearances? What does it take to become mistress? If THIS is true: 'If your kids are subject to bullying & the school fobs you off, forget the school & forget the cops. Apply for a Restraining Order under the Harassment Act 1997 through the District Court. The bully will effectively be expelled from the school as they can't be in the vicinity of the person protected, otherwise they will be in breach of the order.” If this is true, then the bully problem has been sorted.
schools the same
Posted on 06-07-2011 10:08 | By born & raised
Our family have been through the same process with our daughter at Otumoetai College and the Otumoetai Intermediate. The reason we didnt send her to Tga Girls' is because I went to Tga Girls' and I decided if I had kids I wouldn't send them there. Unfortunately If you are a middle of the range family the money to send your children where they may be safe is not available therefore not an option. I believe a decision needs to made to have a tougher line on these Bullies and forms available with steps to take for the Restraining order process. I suppose there is a cost for this as well? Everytime I see these stories on Sunlive there seems to be a huge response. This tells me the COMMUNITY wants something done...someone stand up. Mr Bridges????Maybe
TGA is slack
Posted on 27-06-2012 11:25 | By PinkiePiie
I've only recently left TGA, last year and the 4 years I was attending that school there were multipul physical fights, girls (and myself) we constantly bullied by the same big groups of girls and the worst thing is that if you are in a fight and defend yourself you also get stood down or suspended for being involved even if you're the one who has been getting bullied. the school does nothing to protect it's students and it is not good enough!!!
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