ST Optimist
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- Joined
- Jul 20, 2017
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Timeline of events
There has been a series of squabbling and verbal exchanges among the pupils involved, said MOE.
End-April: The girl reported Pupil A for using an offensive slur on her and another classmate. As the girl had also used an offensive slur on Pupil A, the form teacher asked both pupils to apologise to each other for using bad language.
Mid-July: The girl asked her form teacher to change her seat. The teacher decided to monitor the situation first, as he observed that the girl was talking and laughing with Pupils A and B.
July 25: The girl asked her form teacher again to change her seat, as Pupils A and B’s chatter made it difficult for her to focus during lessons. She added that the two pupils used inappropriate language on her, and that Pupil C touched her face without consent. As she admitted to using inappropriate language on Pupils A and B, the three pupils were told to apologise to one another and focus on mending their friendship.
Later that day, the form teacher informed the girl that he had informed her parent and would change her seat the following Monday. He would also look into her feedback about Pupil C.
July 26: The girl’s mother reported to the school that she had received prank calls and death threats.
July 28: The school pulled the three boys from class. Based on the school’s checks, Pupil A obtained the mobile number from his parent. The trio made multiple prank calls to the girl’s parent, with Pupil C sending audio messages threatening the parent and her family. The school reprimanded all three pupils and informed their parents that they would be suspended from school immediately.
That same morning, the vice-principal met the girl’s parents to inform them about the actions taken by the school, including changing her seat to separate her from the three pupils, and plans to conduct bag checks after they served their suspension. The vice-principal also spoke to the girl’s parents on the telephone in the evening to share plans to assign peers to accompany the girl in school.
As the girl’s parents had made a police report on the death threats, the school assured them that the school would review and take additional disciplinary actions, which may include caning, after the police looked into the matter.
July 30: The girl informed the form teacher that a classmate sprayed water on her. Investigations by the teacher established that this was after the girl used hurtful words on the classmate, including a racial slur to a classmate of another race, and telling others not to befriend the classmate. The classmate then sprayed water in retaliation. Both were counselled for their actions. The classmate’s parent was informed of the incident, and the school planned to share this with the girl’s parents at a face-to-face meeting.
July 31: The safety plan was sent via e-mail to the parents.
Aug 7: The school was informed of a bruise on the girl. The school established that Pupil C swung his bag into the girl during school dismissal. CCTV footage showed that the teacher present was managing another group of pupils and did not witness the incident, and no pupil approached the teacher to alert him to the incident. Following investigations, the school engaged Pupil C’s parents.
Aug 12: Pupil C was caned.
Aug 14: The school arranged to meet the girl’s parents on Aug 18 to update them on the actions taken and steps to support the girl’s return to school.
Aug 15, Aug 16: The parent made her allegations on social media.
