Page 106 - The Mending Season

students thought ofMrs Tanner as a confidante, to the teach­ ers she was just a gossip.Mrs Allison began, “I just wanted to say that we are all very shocked and upset about what happened in this class. I don’t know what happened on the netball court, but I do know that a student was attacked and hurt on school grounds. Now, this is not the type ofbehaviour we are willing to tolerate.”She paused and looked at our side ofthe class.“Whatever manners you learn at home or on the streets, please leave them at the gate when you enter school premises. We cannot allow something like this to happen here. We all work very hard to teach good manners. Some of you have been here long enough to know better.”She paused again. This time she was looking out the win­ dow.“I’m sure youVe read in the paper that we have a situation on our hands. Elizabeths parents are very upset (she took a deep breath) about what happened and want us to take steps to ensure that this sort ofthing never happens again. IVe been getting phone calls all morning from concerned parents ask­ ing whats going on, and are their children safe? IVe had to assure everyone that this was a big misunderstanding - just a girl who let her temper get the best ofher.”She put her hands together and looked at the ground for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. “Now, I’m here as your principal and someone who wants to help before this whole thing gets even more out ofhand. I’d like to know what hap­ pened two days ago on the netball court, starting from the beginning. Were you all there?”We all nodded and said, “Yes.”“Now, who can tell me the whole story?”No one volunteered. Mrs Allison looked around and madea choice.“Patricia? Would you like to tell me what happened?”106