We wave them off to get an education - but some children - a minority but even one is too many - some children, are coming back bullied, beaten and terrified to go to class.
“It’s incredibly difficult to watch that video. It plays, and it just plays, and there’s this image of my son being smashed. It’s gut-wrenching," one Waimea College student's father told us.
“After his detention which was during lunchtime, a mob of kids were waiting outside the detention room, they surrounded him, hustled him out into the field, and one kid proceeded to beat the crap out of him while the rest cheered, called him names and videoed it,” another woman said.
“He went to go toilet before his first period and one of the bullies was there. He wanted something from Seth and started pounding on the toilet door and Seth came out and he pulled him to the ground and started kicking him in the back several times until he got what he wanted," said another mother.
Education Minister Jan Tinetti told Tova O'Brien on Wednesday morning that students returning after the pandemic was tough for them, blaming COVID-19 lockdowns for the recent rise in bullying at schools.
"[We've seen] an increase of mental health issues over COVID time," said Tinetti.
"We are making certain that our young people feel secure and confident back within the schooling environment again."
She acknowledged the recent raise in bullying events across schools in NZ, suggesting people reach out to the Government to make their voices heard.
"I know that sometimes you feel like you're in this on your own," she said.
"I urge that when this happens to schools, get in contact with the Ministry of Education. They have got the support that can help you work through."
Meanwhile, the principal of Waimea College in New Zealand, Scott Haines, has stated that the school is taking the recent incidents of bullying and violence seriously and is reviewing its procedures for handling such incidents.
Haines said, "We are actively reviewing how we handle incidents in our school along with what can be done to reduce anti-social behaviours. As noted in our letter to parents, we will be providing an update later this week with our progress on this review and actions identified."
He also mentioned that the school has met with the Ministry of Education and the police to investigate the incidents and incorporate their recommendations in the review process.
Haines said, "We have met with the Ministry of Education, and they will be supporting us with a review of our incident response, and we will be incorporating their recommended actions. We have also met with the police regarding the incidents in the media, and they are currently speaking with all parties involved."
Haines emphasised that violent incidents and bullying behaviour will not be tolerated and that the school is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students.
He said, "Just one student feeling unsafe at school is not something we accept, let alone students being attacked...violent incidents like this will not be tolerated, and other bullying, intimidation or aggressive behaviours will also not be tolerated."
Haines also acknowledged the nationwide crisis of anger and violence in schools and the impact of social media on young people's mental health and behaviour.
He said, "Sadly, the messages I'm receiving from my principal colleagues is that we have a nationwide crisis... Social media is not helping with this as it is a 24/7 tool, and it provides the opportunity and means to share videos and pictures or make harmful comments or to victimise or re-victimise someone."
In the full interview from Wednesday morning, the Education Minister also conceded a resolution is still some way off, ahead of the planned teacher strike.
Education Minister Jan Tinetti said the strike is too late to stop.
Listen to the full interview between Education Minister Jan Tinetti and Tova above.
You can also download the full interview on the Tova podcast, and listen on the go. Download the rova app on apple or android to listen to this podcast on the go, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
