Rotorua Intermediate School. Photo / Stephen Parker
Rotorua Intermediate School. Photo / Stephen Parker
A Rotorua Intermediate School teacher has been left concussed and shaken after being punched in the head in front of hundreds of pupils during school pick-up yesterday.
Science teacher Alasdair Hay told the Rotorua Daily Post his memory of the incident was still hazy after suffering a minor concussion and a sprained ankle.
A post on the school's Facebook page said Hay was helping direct parents during pick-up time and suggested to the driver of a car to turn left, rather than right, on to Malfroy Rd, in an effort to alleviate traffic build-up.
Hay was then verbally abused and the driver chose to turn right.
The car stopped on the road, a passenger got out of the car, holding up traffic, and ran over to Hay and punched him in the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Principal Garry de Thierry said a couple hundred pupils saw the incident yesterday, some who were a bit traumatised, and the school ensured they were seen to by a counsellor.
"For a lot of the kids, it was the first time seeing something as aggressive as this," de Thierry said.
De Thierry said the incident was discussed at a staff meeting this morning and they were in shock that something like this could happen.
He said the driver and passenger who attacked Hay were related to a child at the school.
"I've been here for 14 years and never had anything like this happen."
De Thierry said students were not in danger and the incident was "out of the blue" and there was no way they could have predicted it.
Hay echoed this and said he did not feel unsafe for himself nor the children, calling it a one-off.
De Thierry said staff would continue to monitor the outside of the school as they previously had.
A no right turn sign at Rotorua Intermediate School. Photo / Ben Fraser
Belinda Heron, a parent of a Year 8 pupil at the school, said the incident was "absolutely disgusting".
"That poor child that car had picked up from school is being raised to think this is actually how we treat people. Mr Hay was trying to do his job and keep our children and community safe."
Jillian Mckinley, another parent of a Year 8 pupil at the intermediate, said the behaviour was unacceptable.
"Everyone should be able to feel safe especially in a school environment. Children shouldn't have to witness this sort of behaviour, especially from an adult."
Jasmin Wairoa said: "As a parent in the community I think it's disgusting that this person thinks he has the right to expose other people's children to this disgraceful behaviour.
"How are staff meant to do their job if they feel threatened to do so? I hope Mr Hay is recovering okay."
The Rotorua Daily Post was at the school gates for after-school pick-up today.
Waiting parent Jenny Turnbull said she first found out about the assault through Facebook.
"I have not ever heard of something like that happening at a school in Rotorua before. I planned to talk to my child about it but luckily he didn't witness it. He'd just been at hockey and was on the on the other side of the school."
She said she had only just moved her child to the intermediate.
"He has been doing really well here, and enjoying it."
Char-Lee Campbell was alerted to the assault via an email sent out to parents.
She said she felt for both the teacher and the pupils "who may not have ever witnessed this kind of 'real' violence".
Campbell said the incident showed the pupils, including her son and nephew, "absolute disregard for authority".
