Ever heard of a problem child? Well the next teenager we’ll tell you about in the next story is one such child. But he’s also developmentally challenged. And when that special problem of anger mismanagement combines with special needs, it requires special care. But now his family alleges that just what the bus conductor at Stella Maris was not giving him when he punched him dead in the eye. I found out more about this disturbing assault today.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Because he is only fourteen years old we are unable to show his face but the teenager who is a student of Stella Maris School was reportedly choked, bitten and punched by the institution’s bus conductor during the children’s lunch break on Monday afternoon.
In the presence of the young boy’s guardian the child explained what triggered the assault that started in the school’s backyard under this shed and ended inside the principal’s office. The teenaged student admits that he has an anger problem that his family believes is due to a series of traumatic events in the child’s life. And it took only what the student perceived to be a hard stare to ignite the spark that resulted in the physical assault by both the student and the school employee.
Voice of Student,
“I told him do not look at me like that and then when I went to sit down he came up into me and told me let me tell you something you don’t have manners fi nobody and then he just came and started choking me on the table.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What happened next?
Voice of Student,
“Well I was struggling, I was getting really weak and when I wanted to do something, when I moved from the table out more, I bit him on his left arm and then when he didn’t let go, I was combing my hair an afro pick at the time and I used it on him. I bored him in his hand several times.”
A staff member finally parted the two and the student went first to his classroom and then taken by a teacher to see the principal who was not in the office. It is reported that while they both waited the bus conductor walked into the room and struck the student in his mouth.
Voice of Student,
“And I told him what you’re doing here and then the teacher was sitting in front of me, talking to me, holding me down because I was really angry and I was still talking to the man and he was still talking to me and I answered him back. So he just came right in front of me and punched me.”
This medical report signed by a doctor at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital classified the student’s injuries as wounding.
Tanya Panting, Guardian
“What upsets me is we have an institution such as Stella Maris School which is there to cater for special needs kids with different problems and issues.
My nephew is clearly going to Stella Maris because he is one of those children. He got a large cut on the lower part of his lip. He had severe swelling to his throat, severe swelling to the ribs that was a result of the struggle. He is currently on medication for infection that he got from the mouth that was bust and also to help to carry down the swelling from the throat and ribs.
At the time of this incident nobody was there to protect him, nobody was there for his rights, nobody was there to even take this child to the hospital to ask him if he was okay, no thing. He was just left there by himself to fend for himself.”
When 7News visited Stella Maris School we were told by the principal that she had no comment but that the board would be meeting on Monday to decide what disciplinary action will be taken against the student and the school’s bus conductor.
Tanya Panting,
“I have been in contact with both the vice principal and he principal of the school and they have given their version of the story that was told by each respective as to what has happened. In terms of what the principal had to say, this was only in written and has not been confirmed up to this moment that both of them would have to get punishment for the fight that transpired between both of them. You have to question that he is a child, of special needs yes, but he is capable of walking, talking, and understand standing up for his rights and that is exactly what he did that day. So it makes you as a parent or as a guardian question that if the capable can explain and fend of themselves, then in the back of your mind what is happening to the children there that cannot fend and explain for themselves properly.”
Tanya Panting says while she has been informed that the student may be suspended from school for one week she wants the school bus conductor to remove from the institution.
Tanya Panting,
“But I am appealing to the Minister of Education Mr. Faber, to the principal of Stella Maris School, to the director of the Special Care Unit there at Stella Maris. I am asking all the respective to come together and to review this matter and to know that clearly this is an institution in which this child belongs, he needs to be there, but it is definitely not an institution where we need to have people like Mr. Humes working there with these children.”
As we mentioned in the story, 7News did visit Stella Maris School and met with the principal for an interview but she told us she had no comment because the board will be meeting on Monday to discuss the incident and decide what disciplinary actions will be taken against the student and the school bus conductor.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
