13 October 2009

Boy, 9, punched, dragged teacher by hair

Teacher Margaretta Slingsby, who says the incident left her with post-traumatic stress and unable to work, is suing the Department of Education and Training for negligence, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Ms Slingsby was working at Lismore Heights Public School in north eastern NSW when the alleged attack occurred in 2005.

Her barrister, Andrew Lidden SC, told the District Court the student involved — referred to as only as B — had a history of violent behaviour but that the school did not have any plans in place to manage this.

The principal at the time, Trevor Pryor, told staff the boy had come to the school for a new start but said he did not have any records from his previous school.

Ms Slingsby, who taught Italian, was verbally abused by the student in the playground and reported the incident to Mr Pryor.

Two months later, she saw B chasing a girl into the library, screaming, ''You f---ing slut, I'm going to get you," the Herald reports.

Ms Slingsby and the librarian tried to restrain him but he kicked them both and punched the librarian.

After being taken away by the principal, B returned again to attack Ms Slingsby.

''He came up behind me and tried to push me down the stairs,'' she said.

''He grabbed me by the hair and was dragging me ... I could feel my hair being ripped out of my scalp.''

B punched a female staff member who tried to help and threw rocks and dirt into Ms Slingsby's face.

Later she was sitting in the school staffroom when the boy "came tearing in" with the principal chasing after him.

The boy ''grabbed me by the hair and he threw me down on the ground'', Ms Slingsby told the court.

The case continues.

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