- A father confronted his daughter’s bully
- He was banned from the school for a year
- READ MORE: Is YOUR child a bully?
A man who confronted his daughter’s school bully along with teachers he claimed were doing little to help, has been barred from her primary school for a year.
The father, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was handed the ban following a series of warnings leading up to the confrontation between himself and staff in May of this year.
He had tried to oppose the ban during a hearing at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) but it last week ruled to uphold it.
In its rulings, the tribunal described the parent’s actions as ‘disgusting’ and ‘atrocious’.
QCAT member Christopher Taylor said the ‘egregious’ behaviour ‘could not be condoned as being reasonable in any circumstance’.
‘In all respects, he failed to satisfy me that if he was not banned from the school grounds he might readily repeat such conduct,’ he said.
The man was handed several warnings in August 2022 and June 2023 for ‘unacceptable conduct’ towards another parent from the school, who also cannot be named, resulting on that occasion in a 60-day ban from school grounds.
The situation further escalated in the May incident, when he took it upon himself to confront a young student he said was bullying his daughter and a teacher for failing to take action.
A father confronted a Queensland primary student for bullying his daughter, resulting in him being banned from school grounds for a year (stock image)
QCAT documents reveal details of the altercation that resulted in the ban.
The parent confronted a young student on school grounds and said: ‘Next time you come near my family and you harass (child’s name) I am going to get her older sister to start harassing you.
‘Do you understand? We’ve had enough. Stay away from our family.’
The man then attended the school the following day and confronted teachers in the administration office.
‘It’s okay, just run the school how your doing. Say hi to social media because I’m going to take all your jobs your f***ing jobs your c***s,’ he yelled at staff.
‘If you’re asking us to leave – we’ll leave that’s fine – but be prepared.
‘…and if you ever touch (child’s name) again I swear to f***ing God. You keep your hands off my child. Do you understand? Do not touch my child.’
The parent was banned from school grounds for one year but applied to QCAT to have the ban shortened so that he could attend his daughter’s graduation.
He attempted to defend his actions by blaming the school for intervening in the bullying.
He also claimed he did not behave in a threatening manner toward the other student and pointed to an apology email he sent the school.
The tribunal ruled to uphold the one-year ban and described the father’s confrontation of the student as ‘intimidating’ and ‘threatening’.
‘His actions are to be condemned as atrocious … An adult should not at any time approach a young child in such a manner,’ Mr Taylor said.
‘There is no justification for it. It must be the subject of an admonishment.’
