THE state opposition has accused Education Minister Bronwyn Pike of negligence, saying she knew about a bullying problem at a Brauer College for months, but failed to act.
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Following a bullying case of another Year 9 at Brauer College ? that ended in the Children's Court ? local MP Denis Napthine wrote to Ms Pike in May detailing the school's bullying problem.
The boy's father, who did not want to be named for fear his son would suffer reprisals, said he was forced to call in the police because Brauer College failed to act after he contacted the school at least eight times.
''He came home one night and said his jumper had been stretched and he had been slapped and punched and spat on, so I went back to the school, made the complaint but got no satisfaction from their response at all," he said. After another incident, in which his son was hit with a stick, he called the police.
A six-week intervention order against the bully was imposed before an ''undertaking'' was agreed in the Children's Court. The bully was also charged and placed on a six-month good behaviour bond.
The father said the magistrate told him to contact the local MP because bullying should be handled by the education department, not the courts.
In Mr Napthine's letter, obtained by The Standard, he detailed the case, including the fact the family contacted the regional education office.
''The purpose of this letter is to draw your attention to this serious case of ongoing bullying and the concern of the affected family with respect to their perception of an inadequate response from the school and the regional office to this situation,'' Mr Napthine wrote.
On behalf of the family, Mr Napthine requested documents that had been denied including the school's bullying policy, notes on the case and the school's bullying register.
''I also trust you will ensure your Department helps the school implement a plan to put a stop to this bullying and to help the student feel safe at school.''
In July, Ms Pike responded by telling the family to follow the Freedom of Information process to obtain the documents.
''I am further advised Brauer College has developed a management plan to support **** to feel safe at school,'' she wrote.
The parent involved in the case yesterday said he had approached the school on several occasions about bullying and nothing was done until the police and the courts were involved
''This is not the first time the police have had to investigate an assault at this school. Bullying of students has become the norm."
THE AGE
