Worrying indifference to classroom violence

On Monday, the local government of Ningxian county, Northwest China's Gansu province, issued an updated version of the results of their investigation into the attack on an 8-year-old girl by two boys in her class. The revised report answers the doubts and challenges from the public at the conclusions of the first report. ThePaper.cn comments:

The girl was severely injured when one of the boys took off her pants and picked up a broom and smashed it into the girl's genitals. She was bleeding heavily after going back home and was sent to the hospital by her grandparents who care for her.

The local government set up a special group to investigate the attack, and released a report on their findings. However, there were doubts expressed about the original findings.

The revised report clarifies that two boys, aged 7 and 8, used a broom to hit the victim in her genitals, while the whole class watched nearby. No one stopped them, no one rushed to call a teacher.

Although it was earlier stated the class teacher had instigated the attack as she thought the girl had stolen her lipstick, the final report said that the class teacher didn't encourage or condone the violence since she was not in the classroom at the time.

However, there is no doubt that school and the teacher also have to shoulder some of the responsibility for the assault on the girl because of their lack of oversight. They deservedly have been held accountable for their indifference. Teachers should watch over and protect the children in their care. However, the teacher and school failed to perform this duty. As a result, the principal, the deputy principal and the class teacher have all been fired.

Also, it seems the girl was usually bullied by her classmates as she had some mental health problems, and the daily bullying of the girl meant the two boys had no scruples when assaulting her.

The two boys might be too young to face criminal charges, but such heartlessness has not only been inculcated in the school, the parents of the two boys bear some responsibility for their violent behavior as well.

And the authorities cannot ignore school bullying and violence. Children need to be protected no matter whether at home or in school. Government cannot always belatedly apologize and hand out punishments, they must make greater efforts to curb bullying in schools.