Saratov parents demand expulsion of aggressive schoolboy

‘We fear for our children’s lives and health,’ ‘Our children are afraid to go to school,’ ‘The principal is not interested in resolving the conflict’ — with these words, two mothers of 6th-grade students at Saratov Gymnasium No. 5 contacted our editorial office. According to the women, one of the 7th graders bullies younger students: chases them with a compass, promises to ‘gouge out eyes,’ bites, and breaks glasses. Correspondent Victoria Fedorova spoke with all parties to the conflict: concerned parents, the boy’s mother, school representatives, and the city education department. What came of it — in our article.

Mothers of two 6th graders, Lyudmila Lomaeva and Victoria Mikhalyants, submitted a collective complaint signed by 22 parents to the principal of Gymnasium No. 5, Elena Gryaznova (available at the editorial office). It describes that one of the students behaves aggressively, attacks and threatens children, and pursues them. He is 13 years old and is in the 7th grade.

— The gymnasium consists of two buildings, and the problems started when this child was transferred to the building where our children study, they are 12 years old, — says Lyudmila Lomaeva. — As it turned out, this student has repeatedly had behavioral issues, he was transferred to homeschooling, but he returned to school again. He bites, kicks, covered my child in mud. He takes a compass like a knife and starts waving it in front of faces, guards children in the locker room. Threatens to gouge out their eyes. How are we supposed to send our children to school after this if we fear for their health and lives? Not just ours, but all children in this building. We are simply in shock.

Victoria Mikhalyants’ son was bitten by the boy during recess. She also wrote a statement to the principal, but says it wasn’t even accepted for consideration. A discussion among adults yielded nothing.

— When our homeroom teacher asked in the presence of the vice-principal, principal, and this child’s mother why he bit my son, he answered that he didn’t bite anyone. ‘I have zero bites on my list today,’ quotes Mikhalyants. — This is already some manic tendencies if he keeps a mental list of those he has bitten. His mental state is a medical secret, but what are we to do if no one takes any measures?

Parents fear that the gymnasium could see a repeat of the situation like in the Columbine* school, after which a movement calling for armed attacks in educational institutions — school shootings — emerged.

Lyudmila Lomaeva says that together with other parents, they demanded to consider expelling this student. Although both mothers acknowledge that the boy studies well, the problem is only his dangerous behavior. The principal’s official response stated that the appeal had been considered and measures taken: conversations were held with the student and his mother, and teacher duty during recess was increased.

— For some time, he studied in class separately from other children, but during recess he still chased them. The law obliges schools to ensure student safety, — she continues. — I ask the principal: ‘Do you guarantee the safety of our children?’ She says: ‘No.’ The principal is inactive, and the problem is not being resolved in any way.

‘My child is not a vampire’: response from the aggressive schoolboy’s mother

After talking with the parents, I went to the office of Gymnasium No. 5 principal Elena Gryaznova. She was not there. The secretary took my contacts and promised to call back when the principal appeared. For two days, no one called me back. When I contacted the office again, I was told over the phone that there was no answer yet.

The next step was the education department of the Zavodskoy District administration. I called the department head’s number and outlined the situation. Asked how the problem could be solved.

— I cannot answer this question for you, all the best, — answered the employee, without introducing herself, and hung up.

The mother of the boy, against whom the sixth grades have rallied, agreed to speak anonymously. She acknowledged that there is a problem and reported that her child has been on homeschooling for two months and does not attend school. But parents claimed that the 7th grader attacked and bit children on December 2nd.

— He goes to school after lessons, communicates with teachers, does not contact with children, — she corrected. — My son does not attack anyone himself. In the 5th grade, he himself was almost thrown from the 3rd floor of this school. Now he is afraid of children, asks them not to come close. But do you remember your own childhood? Children love to live on the edge, to get an adrenaline rush. In our yard, there is a dangerous slide that goes down to the road. One girl was already run over by a car there. And do you think that stopped children from sliding? They like to provoke, to attract attention. I am not accusing them of bullying, they just test things this way. Here comes a cool boy who is afraid of them. Yes, he bit another, but it was during a fight. My child is not a vampire.

The woman said that after the incident in the 5th grade, her child has been undergoing therapy at a social rehabilitation center, is under the observation of a psychologist and neurologist. At school, he studies well and has been winning prizes in mathematics olympiads for two years.

— I studied in Soviet times, and then conflicts were resolved like this: the teacher invited the children for a talk, they communicated and solved their problems themselves. After conflicts between my son and other children, everything was fine: they also communicated, went to the theater. Parents have my number, but they also haven’t made any claims. Their children may pursue their own goals and escalate the situation to avoid going to school. All these situations need to be resolved with a psychologist, not just us, but them too. But this, probably, should be handled by the school administration. Gather everyone, set a time and place for a meeting. I am open to conversation.

*Columbine (a terrorist organization, activity banned in the territory of the Russian Federation)

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