...about animal cruelty at school today?

[AsSummerTurnsToAutumn]

NC. My DC13 is at a large state secondary. At school today a little bird - possibly already ill or injured - landed in the playground. Before my DC could even try to help or move it, it was stamped upon to suffering and then to death by an older and bigger pupil, a boy. It was a deliberate act of cruelty rather than putting it out of its misery. Other pupils including my DC screamed and scattered. My DC couldn't find a member of staff to report it to at the time, and doesn't know the boy or even his name. When my DC returned, the bird had obviously been kicked about and was in pieces. My DC was in tears about it when they got home, and I don't think it will ever be forgotten. My DC is an animal lover, but also abhors any sort of cruelty.

I have comforted my DC and spoken to them about why this boy might have done what he did, and advised them to avoid him in the future. I have suggested that they could have reported it to staff later, but I think they spent the rest of the day in shock after witnessing that.

How common is this kind of cruelty in schools? My concern is also about and for the boy who did it - why, and what else is going on with him and perhaps at home? My instinct is to report it to the Head. Am I overreacting? AIBU?

Thank you everyone. I take the point I might not know about the CCTV, also that there were other witnesses who might well know the boy. My DC isn't a Walter Softie by any means, but this has really upset them. I know people sadly see much much worse, but I wouldn't be surprised if bedtime brings some bad dreams. My DC has already said they don't want to go to school tomorrow and that's not usual. I will send them, but feel quite upset and angry they've been made to feel like that, and the other kids too. And that poor little bird!

Report!

Definitely report it. As other children were there I think the school should be talking to all pupils about this. Completely and totally unacceptable.

Oh and of course a pupil should be punished for stamping on a living thing - and spiders are living things. Not sure how it becomes a power trip just because the creature in question has 8 legs?

Isolation for killing a spider is way Ott.
No it isn't. That spider had just as much right to live as those children, as you do, as I do.

One real concern is that my DC might be bullied or worse about reporting it, by the boy or his friends. However if I report it and ask school to keep my DC out of it, as there were other witnesses I hope my DC won't be made to suffer for it being reported.

Spider killing is very common though, theyve probably seen that thatsbhow their parents deal with spiders. Seems a bit much to
Punish them fairly severely when they may have no clue it's wrong

Yes report it.

As creambun says

There is a very strong link between staring out torturing animals, moving on to arson and then rape/murder.

Evil shit that boys is.

*starting

I imagine that other children might also report this, and might know the boy's name. It will be good for you to report too.

Animal cruelty is pretty unusual, and I'd be seriously worried about kids who are aggressive toward animals.

They won't tell the boy who reported it. They'll know not to do that

How awful! Particularly kicking it around once dead. The only caveat I have is if the boy doing it is a country boy or son of farmers. Although brought up in the country myself I was horrified when I first saw a non-sadistic, 60-odd year old farmer do this with an injured fledgling I brought to him, and I later learned that this is quite commonly seen as humane in certain circles as opposed to prolonging suffering and abject fear in a wild creature very unlikely to survive it's injuries. Just like people punctiliously pulling up in their cars to check if pheasants or rabbits they've hit are dead, and if not wringing their necks so they don't agonise by the roadside.
None of these people would "play" with the carcass though. Definitely report to the school.

He's not reporting it you are. How would the child know who's parent reported it?
The teachers will find out who did this. It's highly unlikely they won't.
This child needs to know consequences of actions on many levels.
Our school had some kids that did something cruel to an animal, I can't even remember what it was, but they were suspended, they took it very seriously

Isolation for killing a spider is way Ott.
No it isn't. That spider had just as much right to live as those children, as you do, as I do

This is MN where houses are burnt when spiders appear..

It's the ease of which life is take which is the worry...

When it's not an accident
When it's not self preservation... (They are harming/hurting you in some way)

The utter detachment and ability to deliberately cause pain or torture a creature out of curiosity or some kind of superiority complex is huge worry. Be it an ant a spider or a bird or a dog or a person.

I would be worried about soneone.wgi would sit there pulling kegs off a spider or wings off a butterfly as much as I'd I'd worry about a person kicking a bird.

Please do report it. It could very well be on CCTV and if not it's quite likely that the school (assuming it's one where the staff have good knowledge of the pupils) would have an inkling of which child might do this.
If it's a good school they'll take it seriously. If they don't then that's a heads up on the standard of pastoral care.

Isolation for killing a spider is way Ott.
No it isn't. That spider had just as much right to live as those children, as you do, as I do.

Where do you stand on mosquitoes, cockroaches, bed bugs, rats, pigeons, head lice? Just curious how "animal friendly" your home is in real life.

I second what was said above. People who hurt people often start with animals. You were wise to tell your DC to stay away from the boy.

If kids don't get punished for eating ham sandwiches, they shouldn't be punished for standing on insects.

However, deliberate cruelty (ie not just death, but torturous behaviour) needs reporting to the police if you can find out this kid's name. He needs watching

Callamia Animal cruelty is on the rise why do you think its uncommon ,in fact its becoming worse with young people ,have you not seen the cruelty cases on facebook,
I can hardly to look at some of the things that happen,and thnment promote it with culling of badgers and foxes,

I'd report it. It would be raised in year assemblies in our school if culprit couldn't be identified.

Should say this Government pc playing up

Your child is a credit to you for already showing signs of compassion and empathy which will bode well for him in years to come, the boy who did the stamping and kicking of a poor defenceless birds body on the other, that's a different story, that nasty little individuals cards are well and truly marked and a prison cell waits with his name on it.

Yes definitely report it. Hate animal cruelty

lovemylover You're becoming more aware of it, and it gets much more airtime on social media etc. I don't think that harm itself is becoming any more common.

I work with children with aggressive and antisocial behaviour, and very few show signs of deliberate harm towards animals. Those that do, we really worry about - their behaviour is much more difficult to change.

This needs reporting/looking into.... this child clearly has issues and it's well known that cruelty/abuse to animals usually escalates to abusing fellow children.

Thanks again everyone. Sorry, I had to dip out to spend time more with the DCs. I have been able to work out with my DC that the boy is in Year 10 or above. It was also witnessed by some younger pupils my DC said, as it was mentioned on the bus home that some Year 7s had been in tears. What an experience for them to have, only a couple of weeks after moving up to secondary school. Perhaps this means however that I won't be the only concerned parent contacting the Head tomorrow.