Teacher Causes Pain After Allegedly Calling Overweight Boy, 10, an Elephant
- A 10-year-old boy was removed from Panorama Primary School in the Western Cape after his teacher allegedly insulted him over his weight
- Reports say that the Grade 4 pupil's teacher allegedly referred to him as an elephant while reprimanding a group of boys for playing in a corridor
- The teacher and principal of the school denied that the remark was intended to insult the boy and stated that it was meant for the entire group of boys
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After a teacher allegedly called an overweight pupil in the school an 'elephant', the parents of the 10-year-old removed him from the school. The boy used to attend Panorama Primary School in the Western Cape.
Reports state that the teacher targetted a group of boys playing in a corridor, saying: "If you behave like monkeys and elephants then you all belong in the zoo." According to the boy's parents, the teacher turned her gaze to their son when she said 'elephants'.
Both the teacher and the school's principal defended the actions of the teacher by stating that the remark was not directed at the Grade 4 pupil but at the whole group of boys.
Source: Getty Images
TimesLIVE reported that the horrible incident occurred on 4 May and the 10-year-old's parents lodged a complaint with both the school and the provincial Education Department on 7 May and 13 May.
The mother of the little boy stated that after he was insulted by the teacher, he sat at his desk in tears. She went on to say that her son then refused to play rugby at school and he had a significant drop in his marks. She added that he was known as an 'elephant' by peers, thus making break times unbearable.
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According to Science Daily, boys' mental health tends to be more affected if they are obese. There is a considerably higher risk for bullying in overweight kids, which could result in the development of depressive symptoms.
The ongoing scourge of bullying in SA schools
In more news about bullying that made headlines, Briefly News previously reported that the pupil who was responsible finally spoke out about her actions surrounding the death of Lufuno Mavhunga.
Speaking through her mother, the 14-year-old girl, who allegedly assaulted Mavhunga just hours before the pupil took her own life, said she was filled with regret over the incident.
Speaking to a television station, Newzroom Afrika, the mother of the child said her daughter was receiving counselling and that the Lufuno's passing will stick with her for life.
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Source: Briefly News
