-
Source: ONE News
A 15-year-old Christchurch girl has been bullied out of school just seven weeks before important exams begin.
The girl allegedly received text messages from one tormenter's parents, who did not want the girl to get her mother involved.
The girl's mother is desperately trying to enrol her in another school - a process that can take about a month.
The girl cannot sit her National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 1 exams unless she is enrolled in a school.
She hopes to start a hairdressing or tourism course next year.
Trouble began when she started at Catholic Cathedral College towards the end of last year.
She initially became friends with a group of girls in her class. They turned on her about six months ago.
They would hit her, throw wet toilet paper at her and write nasty messages on Facebook, she said.
A friend, who has since left Christchurch, was "punched in the face in the car park at school" by the same bullies.
Things came to a head this week when one of the pupils hit the girl's 18-year-old sister in the face with a plastic bottle outside the Ferry Rd entrance to the school.
Her mother had to intervene to protect her.
"I feel that there is nowhere for parents to go for help, advice or information when their children are being bullied," the mother said.
A parent of one of the girls allegedly texted the teenager: "Im not trying to get involved in this silly teenage drama and I really wish your mum wouldn't."
Principal Bruce Henley reported the incident to police because it was outside school property.
He was aware of the issue between the girls.
The school had a strong anti-bullying policy and he would welcome the teenager back, he said.
The school's 2009 Education Review Office report says: "Students said that bullying was not a significant issue for them."
Canterbury youth services co-ordinator Senior Sergeant John Robinson met the girl and her mother yesterday.
He recommended parents have an "honest" conversation with their children and their school when they discovered bullying. If there was clear evidence of offences, police could get involved.