Father demands answers after son faces violent bullies at Saunders Secondary

A London father says his son is being targeted by a group of violent bullies at Saunders Secondary School.

Brian, who doesn't want his last name used because he said he fears his son will face further abuse, met with school officials on Wednesday morning following an alleged attack in theparking lot ofthe neighbouring mall.

"We got a call from the principal that the same group of kids surrounded him...threw him to the ground and started kicking himand punching him," said Brian, whose son is in grade 11.

"He had to fight forsafety on his knees and just destroyed both of his knees."

London parent describes escalating school violence

2 years ago

Duration 1:50

A London dad says his son has become the target of violence at Saunders Secondary School and is calling for leadership to step in.

Five students have been suspended for three days, according to what Brian has been told by school officials.

Brian's son has been violently bulled since the start of the school year, first on social media, he said. The abuseescalated a number of weeks ago.

"They actually grabbed him and held him and robbed him," Brian said, tears in his eyes."One kid held him and the others went through his backpack, stole his bus pass, stole other personal belongings."

Another time, the students threw their drinks on his son, he said.

• Students 'running the school in cauldron of violence,' says teacher at Saunders Secondary

• School board responds to reports of violence at Saunders Secondary

This week, a number of students and staff at the school told CBC News they don't feel safe because of the increasing violence at the school. The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) then responded to the claims on London Morning.

This is not an island of impunity where everybody gets away with everything because you're on school grounds.- Saunders Secondary parent, Brian

"The story that was published did raise some very legitimate concerns about incidents and issues that have occurred throughout the course of this year. Unfortunately, though, it contained numerous inaccuracies and exaggeration,"Superintendent of Special Education, Andrew Canham told host Rebecca Zandbergen on Tuesday's show.

"Statistics show that the incidents that have occurred at this particular school are no different than some of the other schools within our district and across the entire province," said Canham.

That response angered the father who has been dealing with his son's violent bullies.

"I was very upset with that because it's not inaccurate and it's not an exaggeration," he said. "I'm firsthand proof."

He's also upset the school didn't call the policewhen his son was allegedly attacked this week."They said we don't call the police. That's up to the parents to call the police," he said.

According to TVDSB, schools only call police when immediate assistance is needed, for instance when 911 is called,and it'sup to the discretion of school staff to report other incidents to police. In a statement to CBC News, a board spokesperson said the school offered to assist the family with a police report.

Demanding answers at Saunders

On Wednesday morning, CBCNews metwith Brian outside Saunders Secondary School before his appointmentwith the schoolprincipal and vice principals. "This is not an island of impunity where everybody gets away with everything because you're on school grounds," he said.

"I'm here today to seek answers of why police weren't called and what are they going to do to keep my son safe," he said before heading into the building.

London parent calls for change amid school violence

2 years ago

Duration 1:53

A London dad recalls meeting with officials at Saunders Secondary School after his son was allegedly beat up and robbed by other students.

After meeting with school officials for about an hour, Brian returned to speak to CBC News.

"They're going to follow up with some actions," he said. "They are committed to reaching out to the community more, seeking more evidence in serious cases."

But Brian continues to bedisappointed with the school's policy on calling police. In most cases, he said, that's left to the student and parents.

"Unfortunately, what that causes is retaliation because all the students know, that if the police come to investigate it, it's because the student decided that, not a third party."