The parents of an eight-year-old boy who was held on the ground and kicked multiple times in the school playground have come forward to call for systemic change that would give teachers more power and better resources when it comes to behaviour management.
Mason Farmer was hospitalised after he was attacked at a school in Perth’s eastern suburbs on April 2, by a child the same age as him.
His mother, Erin Farmer, said she received a call telling her she needed to come to the school after Mason was attacked for ‘stimming’ – a phrase used to describe repetitive movements or sounds used to self-soothe, regulate emotions, or cope with sensory overload for those who are neurodivergent.
Farmer said her son had ADHD.
“Mason told us that he was just in the playground, not with anyone, it was just before the bell went to go back to class, and he was making a popping sound with his mouth. It’s not loud. It’s not in your face or anything,” she said.
“This child (who lashed out) didn’t like it.”
Mason was kicked multiple times, and managed to get a few punches in before being tackled to the ground head first, she said.
“Then he had knees laid into his head, his neck, his back, and he was unable to fight any more,” Farmer said.
“He was broken … that’s devastating.”
Farmer and Mason’s father Aaron rushed their son to Perth Children’s Hospital via ambulance after picking him up from school because he was dizzy and had “tingling fingers”.
He was given an MRI and an x-ray. Doctors then placed him in a neck brace and directed him to lay flat for more than 24 hours to minimise the risk of any spinal injury.
“I’m so grateful that there wasn’t any serious injuries. He’s got a bit of a stiff neck, a bit of bruising, but other than that he is physically fine. Mentally though, mentally he has really struggled,” Farmer said.
She said the child had hurt Mason just one-and-a-half weeks before the second incident, but the school had done all it could.
“They have gone through as many things as they can to try and help the child, help the students, keep everyone safe within their powers. They don’t have a lot of power, and they don’t have enough resources,” Farmer said.
“I don’t know the answer, but I know that someone needs to listen to us. I’m just a mum who is dealing with this on a day-to-day basis. I don’t know how to fix it, but I know that someone needs to.
“Every kid has a right to an education, but every parent and every child has a right to know that we’re sending our kids to a place where they’re going to be safe.
Mason Farmer was attacked in his Perth school playground.
“There has been more children than I can name that have left because their parents are too scared to send them to school.”
She said teachers didn’t sign up to put “their bodies and livelihoods on the line”.
“I don’t have any feelings against the school. They are really trying, and there is no point in bringing bad light to them or the child who did this,” Farmer said.
“We can’t help anyone if we’re just going to be angry, we need to make noise.”
The father said they had discussed changing schools, but it wasn’t something Mason wanted to do.
“He feels like it’s unfair that he should be taken away from his classroom, his friends that he plays t-ball with,” he said.
“It’s sad that it’s gotten to this really. There needs to be more assistance for teachers.”
Department of Education schools deputy director-general Steve Watson said the issue of behaviour did not just fall on schools, and that cooperation from families and the wider community was needed to resolve the issue.
The concerning behaviour of school students was highlighted in a separate incident, also on April 2, after a 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged over the alleged assault of a 14-year-old at an Ellenbrook shopping centre.
The victim was left with a broken jaw and potential spinal complications. Witnesses claim they saw him have his head “stomped on”.
Aveley Secondary College, the school both attended, released a statement to parents after the incident was reported on.
Principal Stephen Pestana said the school was “taking this matter very seriously and has taken very strong action with the student”.
He said students would face strong consequences if they engaged in violent or antisocial acts, including the loss of good standing, suspensions and, in very serious cases, expulsion.
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