Backpack strap cut with scissors

Well she’s accusing the school staff of racism based simply on their nationality.
What would you call that?

OP was making the point that the staff are the same nationality as the bully so she feels like they are protecting him. That isn't racist.

I ddin't read it like that, I read it that Op and her family are one of only a few from outside Ireland and are being treated differently because of that. Its more that they are being treated badly as "incomers" than Irish people are all racist
I could be wrong though

This advice was in the first reply you received.

I'm very sorry your child has been bullied, that must be horrible. I suggest you do not mention the % of Irish pupils or teachers at the school. It won't help your case. And you risk accusations of racism back at you.

Sorry you are going through this. We went through quite a lengthy bullying investigation a few years ago. Afterwards, little things would happen randomly, the worst being that my DC’s instrument got broken - snapped in two.
The school investigated and couldn’t get to the bottom of it. They said the most likely explanation was that a cleaner did it when they were hoovering. We don’t believe that for a number of reasons, but there were no witnesses so nothing could be done. However, due to the situation that had gone before, and the possibility of it being a deliberate act by another child, the school replaced the instrument immediately.
whilst the whole incident was frustrating and upsetting, the school’s gesture of goodwill meant we maintained a good relationship and level of trust.

You sound a bit racist yourself actually, with your constant reference to people being Irish and the staff being Irish. I presume you are in Ireland , so .............

It is appalling that your child is being racially bullied , but thats down to the bully and the bullys family. The blanket smearing of people who are Irish smacks of racism from you and any wont be doing you any favours.

NI it's p1 to p6

You're right. I misread.

Sorry your child is being picked on OP. If the staff aren't taking it seriously is there another school you could switch to?

I doubt OP is in ROI @FuckityFux. They don’t have Year 3 here. Northern Ireland maybe.

This is the wrong incident to pick as your fight because you don't have any evidence of who did it. I think that is why you are getting YABU responses.

Keep the diary and complain hard on incidents for which there is evidence. In England you'd escalate to governors if no joy from the head teacher. But choose your battle based on what you can prove, not just suspicions.

A change of school would likely be easier on your child, and would send a strong message to him that you believe him and that he deserves better than this.

I live in rural Ireland in an area that is more culturally diverse and heavily tourist driven but many of the locals are incredibly racist against non Irish born people, particularly if English isn’t their first language and they’re not white.

They just don’t make it blatantly obvious unless they assume their audience is likely to agree with them and then they happily rant away. It’s utterly vile that they’re passing on their racist nonsense to the younger generation.

My teen son is friends with a lot of the Ukranian kids at school and I’m horrified at the bullying they endure from some of the native Irish kids as a result of racist bollocks spewed no doubt from their ignorant parents.

I took that (moths) as a typo for months not maths.
Definitely not in ROI I think, as OP speaks of Year 3.

your son shouldn’t have had his backpack cut and it does sound frustrating that the school don’t seem interested to investigate. Someone purposely damaging another’s belongings does not necessarily mean that they will stab someone next time. I don’t understand why you are referring to people as migrants or Irish - what do those facts have to do with anything?

Destroying property is a common tactic by bullies when they can’t get to you mentally or physically anymore. I had a bully spoken to at work and put in their place by management and a week later my coat was cut . Could not prove anything.

Surely children’s safety scissors couldn’t have done that?

Maybe they could.

My child cut a large chunk out of my heavy, lined curtains with a small child’s safety scissors when he was five. The curtains were made of quite a thick brocade-type material.

I was shocked at how easily he’d done it and how sharp the scissors actually were. They were of a type routinely found in schools and playschools.

Are you in Ireland? As your saying all the staff are Irish?

I read Op's post as that they are in Ireland and she feels that pupils who are not originally from ireland are treated less favourably

True. Although do primary schools in NI have seperate maths teachers? I thought they had one teacher who teaches everything

Why are you desperately keen to minimise this clear escalation of bullying? 🤔
I really hope you’re not a teacher. 😳

The backpack Incident happened when the backpack was in the changing room so a child must have deliberately chosen to take the scissors or a knife into the changing room with the intention of using them. On this occasion they cut through a thick webbed strap. I sew bags for a hobby and there’s no way you could have slipped and accidentally severed the strap. It was cut with a blade!!

It’s hardly a leap to think that a child engaged in bullying a migrant child has upped the ante by using a sharp blade to cut a strap, and might use the same weapon on the child next time. Kids who stab other children didn’t just start randomly doing this in their late teen years. This sort of thuggish behaviour starts earlier and isn’t adequately dealt with at the time because teachers and parents don’t want the hassle.

@IkeSmile OP can you confirm if you’re in NI or the Republic as advice on how to escalate these matters will change depending on the country you’re living in.

You sound racist against Irish people.

If you are passing such a nasty attitude on to your child, it's no wonder they are not liked by anyone at school, because kids tend to echo what they hear at home.

Disgusting that the school won't support you better and investigate the bullying.
I was bullied in school and had my trainers stolen and set on fire by one girl, it's heartbreaking.
I am not sure what you can do but I would start documenting dates and times and creating an email chain with the school.
Unfortunately some parents of bullies might be accepting or not caring that their child is a bully.
I know a few people that moved schools becuase of bullying as the schools could not stop it, so last resort this might be the only option. Sometimes depending on the area and school, no amount of intervention can stop the bullying and the bullied child has to either move school or be home schooled.
My experience is that british schools do not effectively deal with bullying, they like to pretend it isnt happening and brush it under the carpet.
I am british btw.

Is this school in Ireland? Why do you keep making the point that the children, teachers and head are Irish? If it’s an Irish school isn’t that normal?
However I share your concern that a child should not be running around with something sharp enough to cut that. Surely children’s safety scissors couldn’t have done that? They also should be taking it seriously. Report it higher up. Your child should be safe at school.

As others have said, OP, you MUST follow the school’s complaints procedure, which must be published on the school’s website. There is no point contacting the Chair of Governors at this point because governors will be involved if your formal complaint can’t be settled by the class teacher / headteacher.

But a school won’t discuss any interventions they’re taking with another child - the one who’s slapping - with the OP anyway?