An 11-year-old girl has been expelled from school after she
pulled a knife on another girl.
Whangaparaoa College principal Brian O'Connell said the
incident was shocking for the school. He had never seen a
young girl pull a knife on another in 35 years of teaching.
"The knife wasn't used but it was not just threatened in a
minor way, it was pointed and she threatened, `I will use
this on you'.''
The school had "offered and strongly demanded'' the girl
enter counselling.
She had some history of concerning behaviour at previous
schools and Whangaparaoa.
"The issue is the family's level of engagement has not always
been at the required level and we are still trying to engage
with them,'' O'Connell said.
The school had contacted the girl's mother and community
services. "We want to work with the family until the girl has
enough support so she can continue her education. We had to
make a decision for the safety of the other kids.''
He said the school found nothing to suggest the girl had been
bullied.
- Herald on Sunday
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