Man screaming at and rough-handling boy on way to school this morn - WIBU to call school?

[cfc]

I was getting the baby up this morning and her window was open. I heard a guy screaming at a young lad, perhaps about 6 yr's old. He was in his face shouting "just apologise to me, all you have to o is say I'm sorry Sam" so it wasn't his dad. Then he grabbed him by the front of his jacket and lifted him up in front of his face and continued shouting in his face - he also was still smoking with the ciggie hanging from his mouth.

At this point out of my window I shouted at him to stop. He just walked on, but I could hear him continuing to shout but couldn't make it out - he had a proper thick scottish accent (we don't live in Scotland).

I've heard this guy shouting before recently only. Should also mention he was walking with others Inc I think the child's mother. And there were people at the bus stop watching this whole thing. Had I been able, ie not getting a child up, and waiting for the toddler to have his morning poo (he thinks he can wipe his own bum, he can't) I'd have done more.

I think I know the school. I bet they're known to ss. Or I could wait until Monday and follow them to school if dh wouldn't mind getting into work late so i could a- mind the child or b- say to the school admin 'look that family there.

Typos - sorry on tablet.

Absolutely nothing. And I think she was the boy's mum. There were two other children with them and another couple, who I think might be their parents.

Sad, isn't it?

That's awful!

I have been lurking on this thread and it has really upset me. Not because of people posting about the ciggie/shouting at same time debate or the mans accent etc etc. On any 'chat' forum you are going to get that. Yet those people who have dared to put any alternative input to the 'accepted party line' have been ridiculed and insulted even though most have qualified their posts with: ' If you are concerned then you should report this.'

But at the end of the day none of the posters on this thread either of the 'accepted' view or otherwise prevented the incident from being reported to the authorities. That was and is entirely in the OPs hands. I personally think this needed to be reported - a phone call to the police would have been my inclination on witnessing what l viewed as a crime.

I am very worried about this little boy. The man has been challenged now, very publicly and humiliated in public and 'called' on his behaviour.

The worst hiding l ever got from my exh was after a night out when he (ironically) shouted in my face and called me an abusive name and l banged the back of my head in the pub doorway as l jumped back. Two men decided to intervene as we walked away and one threatened my exh to leave me alone he was going to be watching etc etc. My exh transferred all his rage at being 'called' on his behaviour onto me when we got home. My front teeth are all capped as a legacy of that night. l was in hospital for three days. l never went back, all the agencies helped me 'escape'. So in a roundabout way those well meaning men did help me l suppose.

I just think it needs to be followed through - all or nothing, in my humble opinion and ime.

Hello everyone, I went into this school this morning and spoke to the headmaster.

I told him what I'd seen, i.e. the truth, the whole truth and NOTHING but the truth and he said he would look into it and that they had a staff meeting that night to he'd get to chat to the teachers about it also.

He took my details and said it was better than putting "anonymous" when he puts the report in the file, that I was unlikely to hear from them (fine by me) and that I'd done the right thing in coming to them as "it's helpful when trying to build the bigger picture" - he also mentioned during out brief meeting that it is worrying that he was prepared to be like this to the child in public and it makes you worry about what is happening behind closed doors within the family. All things pointed out here on this thread.

So again ladies, thank you for your replies and time.

Cfc, I also think you've done the right thing (lurking here) so well done.

I think that if people saw half the things done to children, being done to adults, the domestic abuse line would be going crazy. The man was horribly out of order and I can't believe folk were telling you to keep your nose out of it. Even if nothing comes of it and (hopefully) its a one-off, at least you have give part of a jigsaw piece to someone who has this boys interests at heart.

Well done OP. Did he give the impression that he knew who you were talking about then? Just thought his comment about what you said being helpful when trying to build the bigger picture wouldn't apply if he didn't know who you were talking about.

Well done OP, it was brave to put your name to it (not that you have anything to worry about by doing so, it just still takes guts). You've done absolutely the right thing.

I've tried to go over the conversation with him and there was something he said about 'the file' and nodding throughout that made me think perhaps he did know, but wouldn't say. But I wouldn't bet the dog on it!

I've been in a similar situation in the past, though it was a Nursery aged DC at my DD Nursery - I spoke with the Nursery & turned out they were already concerned because of the DCs behaviour & suspected something was amiss, though they obviously couldn't divulge too much, I was thanked for helping.

Roll forward a few years & we still occasionally see this DC with the same parent, different picture all together, very happy in each others company & a very happy bubbly DC, not the same sullen, volatile & angry little mite of Nursery days - I heard on the grapevine that there was some sort of intervention which actually help struggling parents to cope & turn things right around :)

Not sure it sounds so simple in this poor mites case, but even so I wouldn't hesitate to speak with the School

Just seen your update - glad you spoke up, fingers crossed it makes a real difference here too

Lovely to hear a story with a happy ending rockinhippy :)

Well done, OP!

Glad it's sorted CFC.

Good, just shows you absolutely did the right thing.

Great news! Might have changed that little poor souls life for the better.

FAB WORK X

Well done OP you may well have gotten that little boy the help he needs.

The world needs more caring souls like you