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Smile again
What is wrong with the children? Why and how do they get so violent? Surely it can't be without the influence of movies or video games. This is very sad. My prayers are for the child to recover soon and smile again.
From Ms Vandita Kumar
UAE
Facebook comment
Everyone's responsible
I can't believe this happened. Children spend more time at home than in school. So the parents are first responsible for the children and the school is responsible for the lack of protection, supervision and discipline. What else will happen when parents show all kinds of movies to their children at home? Do they maintain a PG (Parental Guidance) rating when watching television or surfing the internet at home? Violence is spoon-fed to children through the media easily. So you can't solely blame the school for not disciplining the children. The school is responsible for ensuring the safety of every student on its campus. So what were the teachers doing when this happened? Everyone is responsible for this and if we want to stop such incidents from happening in future then the society as a whole should take collective responsibility!
From Ms Shazz Nuevavida
UAE
Facebook comment
Where they belong
Violence makes me sick. People who hurt others - be it their family or someone they hate - should be put in jail. Such people belong there.
From Ms Ana Belle
UAE
Facebook comment
The school's fault
The school should be held responsible. Parents send children to school to teach them good behaviour and habits. This happened due to the lack of discipline in school.
From Ms Shajitha Shifa
UAE
Facebook comment
Lack of discipline
I agree with Ms Shaitha [Facebook reader comment]. We as parents send our children to school with the belief that our children will be instilled with good morals and ethics. The school should be held responsible for their lack in demonstrating discipline to students!
From Ms Greta Yvonne Duffield
UAE
Facebook comment
It happens often
This is not the only school where pupils have done this. My son was bullied verbally and physically for three years in a school in Dubai, and when I found out and complained about it, nothing much was done. Instead, it broke my son's confidence further. Sometimes the teachers were present when this abuse was happening and they pretended not to hear or see and walked faster to get away from the scene. I had to take him out of that school. This incident happened four years ago but the scars remain fresh. I wish I could have a couple of hours with those teachers and students alone to say a few words to them.
From Ms Nadia Seddiqi
Dubai
Facebook comment
Children need more care
I don't know if it exists but I feel that parents should have an association in the school, with that I don't mean just a group. If anything like this happens or even simple bullying occurs to one child then the other parents should pressurise the school to take strict action against the pupils and their parents. It's sad how these days violence starts at school. However, this is not just restricted to schools - I have seen children behaving badly in play areas and there is no one to discipline them, as most of them are accompanied by maids who are busy chatting with other maids or are scared of the children themselves. I was raised here and during those days the UAE was a more peaceful place because parents had time to invest in their children - having a maid was a luxury, hence such incidents were a rare case. I think the fast-paced lifestyle and the urge to earn money have really made people oblivious to proper childcare. They think that by buying them expensive stuff they are doing their part.
From Ms Mahnaaz Shaikh
UAE
Facebook comment
Prevention is necessary
UAE authorities should take some measures and steps in preventing such acts by pupils, this violent behaviour is increasing in teenagers and young people because of lifestyles, video games and other action movies that are being watched quite often by children. Parents should carefully monitor activities or their children and make them sports lovers rather than action movie gangsters. Authorities should impose disciplinary action on such schools where such incidents happen.
From Mr Mohsin Ali
Dubai
Website comment
No action taken
Almost a similar incident happened with my brother who was then studying in Grade 4 at a school in Dubai. This incident happened around a year or two ago. Where some bullies from the same grade used to hit him, throw him to the ground and tear off his clothes. Even though he used to complain to his class teacher they did nothing to stop this sort of treatment. My father went personally to meet their supervisor whose only reply was to send them an official email. But even though we did this, no action was taken by any of the officials. It's really sad to know that even elders, teachers, and school officials do nothing about such incidents, which affect the child to an extent that he becomes fearful with the thought of leaving home or in the absence of anybody known. Is this how schools should support?
From Ms Aparna Bala
Dubai
Website comment
No mercy
This is barbarism on a little girl. The pupils who bullied and beat her should be put behind bars taking no consideration of the age factor, since even an adult will think before doing such heinous crime.
From Ms Jeelani Basha
Dubai
Website comment
Failure by teachers
What a tragic story. It's heartless behaviour on the part of those teachers who could have prevented such an ordeal. What is the world coming to. We let children take matters in their hands. Every school needs a counsellor to train young minds how to react in a certain situation and how to modify behaviour in the positive direction. Children are stressed due to bullying, negative comments and low self esteem. Parents must sit and talk, spend time to know what's going on in their child's life. I wish her a speedy recovery.
From Ms Uzma Atif
Sharjah
Website comment
Parents are accountable
I hope she gets better soon. Parents of the violent children should be the one to be punished and the boys should be sent to a specialist to check their behaviour. I strongly disagree that this is the cause of a violent video game. My son plays violent video games but he knows what is right and wrong, real and not. This shows that their parents do not explain the difference between what's real and virtual and the atmosphere at home also reflects in the child's attitude.
From Ms Maria
Dubai
Website comment
Guide your children
I am very disappointed to know about the plight of the little girl. May God bless her with the strength to get back to normalcy quickly. I think punishment is not the only action required at the moment. Nowadays, it is getting difficult for parents to bring up their offspring. They are always on the run, not recognising the importance of spending time with their little ones and to give them some ideas of human values and relationships. The parents have to be blamed for this, not the children. There must be some awareness classes for the parents, which is the need of the hour.
From Mr Vinod P.
Sharjah
Website comment
Action against the school?
Before blaming the pupils, the school management should be questioned for ignoring a child being beaten by other students. Children are sent to school trusting the teachers to be their guardians as along as they are in the school. How can teachers and supervisors be so irresponsible? Strict action should be taken against the school first and then against the students. Please do justice for the affected students. I can feel how much her parents will be suffering mentally and physically. I pray for the girl and her family for early recovery.
From Ms Nalini Devakumar
Dubai
Website comment
Not enough focus
This is the outcome of the values wherein parents are unable to provide sufficient time to their children. Keeping themselves busy with parties, fashion, window shopping and leaving the children in the guardianship of a housekeeper - it is ridiculous!
From Ms Zohra
Dubai
Website comment
Alarming trend
I was born and raised in the UAE. I've personally seen vast changes in children's behaviour of different generations. The present generation is definitely better informed, social, competitive and active in society than their predecessors but in the areas of human compassion and emotional intelligence there is a genuine noticeable downward trend. This is definitely an alarming and dangerous trend in a society.
From Ms Vimal Vincent
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Why didn't they stop it?
It's alarming and sad to know that what happened has been witnessed by teachers on the ground and they didn't interfere to stop it. They should not get sleep as a result of their carelessness. Would they do the same and keep watching if they were their children getting kicked? Cannot blame the children because they are still children and it's part of their education to teach them how to be peaceful and non-violent.
From Mr Hesham
Dubai
Website comment
Investigation a must
A thorough investigation should be carried out, and the bullies and irresponsible teachers should be severely punished. Justice has to be brought now and this should be a lesson for everyone. May God help the little girl and her family.
From Ms Rubeena
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Video games are to blame
I would blame video games and the parents who allow children to use them freely. I know of an 11-year-old boy who suddenly started to behave violently, get angry and use bad words. The reason was that he started to play with a video game that featured a lot of violence, shooting and use of bad words. After he stopped using the particular game and with a little bit of [parental] control, he reverted to his earlier normal behaviour pattern.
From Ms Saman
Dubai
Website comment
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