Principal says teens accused of lighting school fire are “deeply remorseful”
The principal of a private school attended by teens accused of starting a fire that gutted Sandringham Primary School says the teens needed to be treated with “compassion” while hitting back at claims the school is focused on “brand management”.
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The private school principal accused of not doing enough to support the Sandringham Primary School has acknowledged “strong and conflicting emotions” within the Bayside community over the destruction of the school.
Six teens, three from a private and three from a government school, are under investigation after the historic school was allegedly torched on February 1.
“Amid (st) all of the diatribe, I am mindful of the tensions for families who have strong connections to both (school name deleted) and to Sandringham Primary School,” the private school principal said in a letter to families late on Friday.
“We recognise that all such families have a strong love and passion for their primary school … It is important that we continue to acknowledge those who are struggling, and I encourage parents to ensure they speak about their sense of loss and the emotions that are welling in them, whether this be at home or here at school.”
In the letter the principal hit out at a “mob mentality” and said the school offered the Sandringham Primary School community everything from access to its swimming pool and country camp to science labs.
An earlier briefing to staff in the days after the fire, and leaked to the Herald Sun, was not well received with some families claiming the school was more concerned about branding than a public acknowledgment of the need to support the Sandringham Primary School.
The Herald Sun has chosen not to name the schools to protect the identity of the teens.
The principal, who has not responded to media inquiries, criticised “content expressed through social media chats and media”.
“I can share that the day following the fire I made contact with the leadership at Sandringham Primary School and organised a meeting with the principal and deputy principal to explore ways in which (school name deleted) might support them at this very difficult time,” the principal said.
“This is an action that I would have taken irrespective of whether some or none of those responsible attended the school, it is what we all do in education when a fellow school is in need.
The principal listed some of the assistance offered to the school, including:
— Access to facilities such as its swimming pool, school camp. Year 5 and 6 science labs.
— Seek to arrange a meeting with our architects who have developed our educational philosophy into being a reality.
— Access to parent development evenings that include technology, parenting, sex education that might assist parents.
— Specialist opportunities for music, theatre, extension maths.
— Procurement of reading materials.
— Sharing conversations about pedagogy, cultures of learning and how these influence infrastructures.
— An invitation to suggest other ways in which we could support you and your staff or provide the educational experiences for your young people.
“These suggestions are a reflection of what we would seek to offer any school community in crisis and while some may not prove to be of value, we would, of course, remain open to other ideas,” the principal said.
The principal went on to say that although the alleged actions resulted in “dire consequences” the teens needed to be treated with “love and compassion”.
“It will be our role to prove that we have a capacity to ensure that the consequences for errant behaviours are balanced with unconditional love and a capacity for forgiveness for these young boys, all of whom are deeply remorseful for their actions. They have sought to make a formal apology at the appropriate time, one in which they wish to acknowledge the impact they have had on so many lives.
The community members said they were disturbed by the school principal’s response.
They accused the private school of holding a school meeting with parents “where the main messages were to whitewash the actions of the teenagers and silence those who raised their voice”.
“The wish to brand manage the school, and as the principal states, to ‘create the normality that existed prior to this devastating event’ crashes loudly in the ears of most Sandringham
Primary School students, teachers and families whose own ‘normality’ has now been burnt to the ground,” the community members wrote.
“And those at Sandringham East Primary School and Sandringham Secondary College who have had to absorb 550 students for an unidentified amount of time.”
Students from the school are now being rehoused, while an assessment is made as to whether it can be salvaged or will need to be rebuilt.
“There is a disturbing kind of silence, after an event like this, that happens when a vocal minority silences the mourning majority,” the community members wrote.
“The same silence when the principal of the school to three of the teenagers, holds a school meeting and shuts down the one adult voice in the room which dared to ask ‘when are you going to address the fire at Sandringham Primary School?’ supported by censorious clapping.
“The same principal who sent a letter to staff, asking them to warmly welcome back the three teenagers on the Tuesday after the fire. Without any positioning of wrong doing. No detention. No suspension. No consequence. What kind of message does that give to others?”
Community members writing the letter, who are from different schools, have asked to stay anonymous, saying the reaction to the fire had caused conflict among the close-knit community.
They also say they don’t want it to look like a private versus government school war, as it is not.
Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives arrested six teenagers following the suspicious school fire.
The blaze caused major damage to a number of buildings at the Bamfield St school about 4am.
The morning after the fire the teens went to a local police station where they were arrested and interviewed in relation arson-related offences.
The 13-year-olds were released pending further inquiries and police are still investigating.
The community members said families affected by the destruction of their local school were experiencing many emotions from anguish, horror and anger.
“They had to explain to their shocked kids, only one day back at school, what had happened; making hurried calls to grandparents, babysitters and friends to organise drop offs and pick-ups because school care was cancelled; juggling diaries to work from home; setting up counselling sessions for those kids struggling to digest the change; supporting little prep kids intimidated by their two new campuses; and trying to rally extra donations of critical resources – pencils, pens, paper, white boards, books, calculators, puzzles, lego and toilet paper,” they said.
“Silence is not an option for these people.
“This principal had one opportunity to use the position as a pastoral leader within the education environment to talk about values including respect and responsibility.
“To reflect on the values embedded in the school’s culture and what these mean in the real world.
“To talk about action versus (perhaps unintended) consequences. Wrong from right.
“To ask the school how they might reach out and support the Sandringham Primary School community. To role model.
“The principal did not.
“By making excuses for those three students the principal essentially condoned them and created a storyline that the rest of the school were implicitly encouraged to take up.
“What an appalling lack of leadership and judgment.
“As things stand, the community needs to hear only one word in order to start healing: Sorry.
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“But the privilege of silence has been deafening.”
The school has been contacted for comment.
It is unclear what other actions, apart from the letter to the staff, it has taken.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au