A Tale of bullying

Mrs Oversight starts the overview.

“Mrs Sorgood, I hear you’ve given detention to,” and here Mrs Oversight mentions two of the students in the Upper Sixth ‘C’ Stream. “Can I ask why?”

“I caught them harassing Ellie Jones in the library yesterday. I was on library duty, watching the girls with a free period, and these two strolled in halfway through, clearly been off skiving somewhere. I told them to sit down and not disturb anyone and tried to ignore them. They, on the other hand, found Ellie Jones. I didn’t even realise the girl was there. She was in one of the alcoves. We shouldn’t have them. They’re not visible from the front, and you know some of the girls use them for elicit activities.”

“You know the library has always been that way. And some of the girls require privacy,” is Mrs Oversight’s response.

“Well, the next thing I know is there’s a commotion from this alcove. And there’s Ellie Jones soaked through, water everywhere, her notes ruined, possibly her laptop ruined. And those two girls smirking away. As soon as they see me, they act as if they’re surprised, telling Ellie she shouldn’t have done that. As if she did it. They did it. And so I gave them detention.”

“But you didn’t see them do it.”

“No, but who else?”

“Did Miss Jones tell it was them?”

“You know her. She’ll never stand for herself. She said it was an accident. I didn’t believe her.”

“But you can’t go around handing out detentions on a whim. I’ve told you that before.”

You think back to your first week. The two girls Abigail mentioned are the two girls you suspect of throwing Ellie down the stairs. You believe Abigail.

“I agree with Abigail,” you step in. “It sounds to me like they were responsible. If they’ve damaged the girl’s laptop, then detention is the least we can give them.”

“Were you there, Mr Smith?”

“No,”

“Then please stay out of this. We must be professional. We cannot hand out punishments without evidence. If Miss Jones had accused them, then maybe. She didn’t, so we must take her word it was an accident, in which the other two were not involved.”

“You can’t believe that?”

“It’s the only thing I can believe. As it is Mr Altobello phoned, he did not appreciate you handing his daughter a week of detentions for something she claims she didn’t do. So I’m revoking those detentions.”

“I think that’s the wrong decision,” you have to step in. “Those girls are clearly lying. If you let them off, they’ll just keep doing it.”

“Once again, Mr Smith, you weren’t there, your opinion doesn’t matter. For the record, Mr Altobello is a very important man, who has paid extra for his daughter to attend this school.”

“So, if he pays enough his daughter can do what she likes?”

“It’s not just money, he’s been very helpful for the school in certain recent situations. If he says his daughter isn’t lying, we have to take him at his word.”

You can’t believe this. This is nonsense. The girl is clearly guilty. That her father pays for the crimes to be ignored is ridiculous. This morning Mrs Oversight’s husband told how the school was here to create upstanding citizens. This is not the way to create upstanding citizens.

“No, I believe Mrs Sorgood. If she believes they’re guilty then I believe her.”

Mrs Oversight’s gaze is withering. “You’re new here. Yes, you grew up in the town, but you’ve been away for a number of years. So you might not know how things are these days. Mr Altobello is important to this town, he’s dangerous. If he insists his daughter is innocent, we must take him at his word.”

This has gone from sublime to ridiculous. You’re flabbergasted. You can barely speak for the rest of the meeting. You and Abigail. Both sit there while Mrs Oversight waffles on as if she hasn’t said ridiculous things. You’re still numb when you walk out.

“Thanks for supporting me back there,” Abigail says once your free.

“But you were right. Is the school being intimidated?”

Abigail sighs before speaking more. “Mr Altobello, let’s just say, no-one believes he gained his wealth through legal means.”

“That’s no excuse.”

“Apparently it is.”

That Mrs Oversight thinks it is, just shows how unfit she is to run the history department.