A shocking and disturbing scene unfolded at St Paul’s College in Gilles Plains, Adelaide, when a mother stormed into a classroom and threatened a schoolgirl. The incident, which took place on Monday afternoon, has left both students and parents stunned.
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Violent Threats in the Classroom
Footage from the classroom shows the visibly angry mother confronting a schoolgirl, accusing her of bullying her daughter. As the confrontation escalated, the mother issued violent threats. “You ever f****** mess with my daughter again, I’ll slit your f****** throat,” she screamed.
The situation spiraled further as the woman yelled, “You want to f****** go b***h? You want to f****** go? You ever f****** talk to my daughter again.” She then threatened other students, adding, “I’m your f****** nightmare b***h… I’ll slit your f*** throat. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Shocked students watched in disbelief as the woman continued to hurl insults and threats. “And that smart little f*** over there, yeah, you know you’re just jealous because you’re a **** ****,” she shouted at another student before being escorted out of the classroom.
Figure 1: Video has surfaced of a mother making threats to a schoolgirl. (Image: Seven News)
Parent Reactions
Many parents expressed shock after learning about the violent outburst. One parent commented, “You lead by example. I’m a fiery person but I wouldn’t do that in front of a classroom in front of kids.” Another parent said, “Oh, it’s terrible… I’m shocked actually.”
The incident occurred just over a week into the new school term, leaving many concerned about the safety and well-being of students at the school.
Investigation Launched
South Australia Police have confirmed that an investigation into the incident has begun. A police spokesperson stated, “Police will be working closely with the school during the investigation.” Thankfully, no student was physically injured during the confrontation.
St Paul’s College, a Catholic co-educational school, has expressed concern over the incident and is offering support to students who witnessed the distressing events. Principal Patrick Harmer stated, “The safety and wellbeing of our students is of the utmost importance, and we are providing support to students who may have witnessed the incident.”
Mother’s Apology and Explanation
The mother involved in the outburst spoke out, admitting her actions were wrong but explaining the tipping point that led to her loss of control. She said, “I don’t want my daughter to be another statistic. I don’t want to have to bury my child.”
She went on to explain how her daughter had endured bullying for over 12 months, which had a severe impact on her mental health. “She was crying, she was devastated that this child told her to go and hang herself,” the mother shared. “That is a breaking point for any parent … I went into survival mode, and protective mode.”
She also revealed that her daughter had been driven to self-harm due to the bullying, and despite her repeated requests for help from the school, no action had been taken to stop it. “The school has been negligent on their behalf, they have not done, what they said (they’d) do,” she claimed.
The mother apologised for her actions but maintained that she was pushed to act out of desperation and frustration.
School’s Response
St Paul’s College has been providing support to students affected by the incident. In a letter to concerned parents, Principal Harmer reiterated the school’s commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive environment. He wrote, “We provide an environment where the safety and wellbeing of all is our highest priority. We will continue to ensure the best possible support for our students and staff during this time.”
New Laws to Prevent Parental Violence
The incident follows the recent introduction of tougher laws in South Australia aimed at curbing abusive behaviour from parents. The Education and Children’s Services (Barring Notices and Other Protections) Amendment Bill 2024 grants principals the power to ban parents from school grounds if they pose a threat to the safety of students and staff.
The law also increases penalties for such behaviour, with fines now reaching up to $7,500. Premier Peter Malinauskas commented, “Educators and the wider community expect schools and preschools to be safe and supportive learning environments where there is no place for violence or intimidating and threatening behaviour.”
Conclusion
The violent outburst in the classroom at St Paul’s College highlights the severity of bullying and the emotional toll it can take on both students and their families. While the mother’s actions were wrong, her frustration reflects the growing concern many parents have about the handling of bullying in schools. The school and the police are continuing to investigate the incident, while new laws aim to protect students and staff from such threatening behaviour in the future.
