Advice on how to approach this issue

enginesuck

Hello all,

This evening i called my son 9 to see how his day went (i work away from home) we had a nice chat and then he hit me with it : Dad i have a problem at school.

My son (yes probably biased) has never had any trouble at school - always fantastic reports and hes a happy well rounded lad)

He said a lad in his glass is gay and is trying to kiss him. So we had to have the conversation that some people are gay and thats just how they are, however unwanted kissing or touching is not acceptable in any way and what this boy did was wrong because my son did not want him to do that.

Then he opens up a bit more and says the lad tells him he has a knife in his bag and isnt afraid of stabbing my son. Thats where the alarm bells well and truely rang. Ive basically told my lad that his mum will see him into and out of school tomorrow and not to talk to this boy.

I will also be calling the headteacher first thing and hoping she addresses my concerns and can give me some assurances about my sons safety !

Im well aware its highly unlikely has brought a knife into school, and is most likely bragging and trying to gain attention, however i think it is appropriate to at least bring this to his parents attention.

My question is am I over or under reacting to this ? What do you think is a reasonable response from the school?

Having been lucky so far with both my kids ive never had to bring up any issues with the staff and the school seems to be pretty good ! My kids have certainly been happy there up till now.

Thanks !

Guest101

You call the police. End of discussion really.

enginesuck

They are 9 - at a primary school. Its not the inner city its a quiet town in the north of scotland. Im not sure the police is justified - yet

Guest101

enginesuck wrote: »

They are 9 - at a primary school. Its not the inner city its a quiet town in the north of scotland. Im not sure the police is justified - yet

Honestly, I don't care if they're 5 and in the Vatican.

You call the police, they deal with it.

Detroit

I think this should definitely be brought to the attention of the school.

Not necessarily because I believe your son is in danger, but because it denotes concerning behaviour on the part of the other child. Particularly so if the threats were in anyway linked to your sons refusal to kiss him.

This could be an indicator the other child is being abused, and this should be reported. Better to 'overreact' than to ignore a potential risk to a child.

thorsoak

If you are in Scotland, then school has gone back and in that case, you should contact the police about this situation.

If you are not in Scotland, then you have a vivid imagination.

LKRDN_Morgan

I wouldn't be doing a phone call. I'd be going in with him first thing tomorrow

onomatopoeia99

LKRDN_Morgan wrote: »

I wouldn't be doing a phone call. I'd be going in with him first thing tomorrow

Given that the OP said they worked "away" and talked to their child on the telephone, it seems unlikely this is an option.

Person_one

enginesuck wrote: »

They are 9 - at a primary school. Its not the inner city its a quiet town in the north of scotland. Im not sure the police is justified - yet

thorsoak wrote: »

If you are in Scotland, then school has gone back and in that case, you should contact the police about this situation.

If you are not in Scotland, then you have a vivid imagination.

If only there were some way to know...

LKRDN_Morgan

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Given that the OP said they worked "away" and talked to their child on the telephone, it seems unlikely this is an option.

I didn't necessarily mean the OP himself go in as he said the mum will be seeing him into and out of school. Can't see why she can't do it

paddy's_mum

enginesuck wrote: »

i think it is appropriate to at least bring this to his parents attention.

My question is am I over or under reacting to this?

My view, since you asked.

You sure as hell ain't over-reacting!

He's your son, beloved and you wouldn't be human if this did not frighten the pants off you.

In your shoes, I'd keep my boy off school until I had had long, deep and don't-try-to-placate-me-with-platitudes talks with many more authorities way beyond the limits of the school.

Where did a 9 year old boy (the other kid) learn all this vicious stuff?

If you cannot get satisfactory and REASSURING answers from the school, contact the Police. Such dreadful threats cannot be allowed to be swept under the carpet.

Good luck.