Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
PUMMELLED FOR BEING POLISH Download
Knuckleduster terror for pupil
A terrified teenager is afraid to return to school after being punched with a knuckleduster in an unprovoked attack by a fellow pupil.
The 14-year-old was born in Poland but moved here with
his family a decade ago. And he told the Advertiser this is the latest incident in a long line of what he and his family claim are racially-motivated attacks he’s endured since starting Coatbridge High in 2015.
His story represents the second time the school has been accused of failing to tackle serious bullying issues in as many months.
In November we told how a 13-year-old girl was almost driven to suicide by the relentless torment of fellow pupils.
In this latest shocking incident the youngster – who we have chosen not to name – claims the unsavoury racial slurs he’s subjected to are so commonplace, he’s accepted them as part of school life.
He said: “I get called a ‘ Polish b******’ or ‘ Polish c***’ every day by someone at Coatbridge High. They ask, ‘why don’t you f*** off back to your own country’?
“But as far as I’m concerned Scotland is my country as much as it is theirs. I might have a Polish surname and Polish parents but I’ve lived here since I was three. I can’t help where I was born. So why should I have to put up with such abuse?
“How would they feel if they were targeted for something beyond their control? I report things but nothing changes. It seems to me that I’m just expected to accept it.”
The third- year pupil hasn’t been back to school since last week’s attack in which he says he was punched on the face and head by an older boy wearing a heavy knuckleduster.
His attacker is understood to have been suspended from the school at the time of the incident.
The assault and subsequent threats the teen says he’s received on social media have left him too scared to return and his family are now aiming to remove him in an attempt to start afresh elsewhere.
His visibly upset dad said: “It breaks my heart to look at those pictures and see my son’s blood spilled in school – a place where he should be safe.
“I have been up at Coatbridge High before about the abuse my son receives. I’m told it will get sorted out but it never is. This is unacceptable to me.”
The teen’s father, who runs a successful business, was also angered by the way the school dealt with the immediate aftermath of last week’s assault.
He went on: “My son received no medical treatment, no first aid.
“The school did not call police. Instead they called me and said ‘come get your son, he’s been attacked’.
“I told them I’m more than one hour’s drive away and asked why they didn’t inform the police?
“Instead my son’s mother collected him and took him to hospital for treatment to his head wound.”
Responding to the latest bullying claims to arise at her school, head teacher Janie O’Neill said: “Racism has no place in our school and we work hard to educate pupils and create a culture of tolerance and respect.
“[ The pupil] has not told us about any racist comments made towards him this year; however, an investigation is now underway and we will take all appropriate action.”
A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council added: “We can confirm an assault took place on Monday, December 4.
“The victim was taken to the medical room where he received immediate first aid assistance and his parents and the police were both contacted.
“As this is being investigated by the police, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.”