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Rachel Hale, 18, charges fellow-pupil with assault after nose was broken

01:42 Aug 26 2011 Amanzimtoti

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Matric pupil Rachel Hale: places charge at Amanzimtoti SAPF aftre nose was broken by grade 12 girl
Friday, August 26 - source: journalist Earl Baillache. The Amanzimtoti SAPF have opened a common-assault docket against a grade-12 girl who had allegedly grabbed fellow pupil Rachel Hale, 18, by the neck and headbutted her.
The incident allegedly occurred at about 11.15am. According to Rachel Hale (18), the incident was not reported to the school’s disciplinary head nor to her parents and she only received medical treatment at 3pm.
She had to undergo an operation on Tuesday morning, August 29 where her nose was re-broken to reset.
PICTURE OF BROKEN NOSE: http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/amanzimtoti/amanzimtoti-news-schools?oid=4665020&sn=Detail&pid=4197417&Nose-broken-as-matric-girls-butt-heads

According to her parents, Wilfred and René Hale, had she gone for medical treatment immediately following the incident, the doctor would have been able to reset her nose on Friday.
"We were doing a practical exam for hospitality. An argument broke out between two girls and I," said Rachel. "I went outside to cool off and another girl grabbed me by the neck and head-butted me.I told the teacher what had happened, but she blamed me for the incident and I was forced to continue with the exam in pain and shock."
When René arrived at school at noon, she noticed Rachel was upset, but did not notice her injury.
TEACHER WARNED HER NOT TO TELL HER PARENTS:
"The teacher told me not to tell my parents about what happened," said Rachel. "I have had previous altercations with the girl who hit me, but I never said a word to her at all on Friday before the incident. It wasn’t anything to do with her."
Rachel said she was ridiculed by classmates at school following the incident and on Facebook.
"How am I supposed to feel safe at school when the school is not looking out for me? How can I trust that teacher now? I don’t want to return to school now."
The incident has left her parents furious with the school for not dealing with the incident timeously.
SHE IS INTIMIDATED BY HER CLASSMATES:
"This should have been handled differently," said Wilfred.
"It’s not right that Rachel should undergo this kind of trauma just before writing trials and finals. And she is being intimidated by her classmates. Fortunately she only had a trial exam to write on Monday and then could come home.
"But proper trials start on Monday, September 5 and she is now missing school because of this. To date I haven’t heard back from the school’s principal after leaving three messages on Monday morning."
Ria Kleynhans is in charge of discipline at Kingsway and she contacted Wilfred at about 12.30pm on Monday."I heard about the incident on Monday morning and contacted Mr Hale as soon as I got back to school," said Ria.
Rachel disputes this. "I told Mrs Kleynhans what happened on Friday when I went to the sick room to get painkillers and lie down," she said.
"Rachel had to complete her exam because it is for her year-end mark," said Ria. "With incidents such as these, the principal and I are informed as a last resort. The onus is on the teacher to report it."
According to her, Rachel left with her mother immediately after the exam on Friday, so the school is still waiting to hear her version of the incident. Rachel denied this, saying she had to clean up after the exam and she left in her own transport.
Principal of Kingsway, Geoff Harrison, who only heard about the incident on Monday morning, said before the school could proceed with disciplinary action, Rachel’s version has to first be recorded.
"Rachel is not an innocent party in this incident," he said. "Both girls will get punished once we have the whole story. The school will follow the proper procedure. This kind of behaviour is definitely not tolerated at Kingsway.
This was an unfortunate incident that can happen at any school, especially with the pupils stressed out about upcoming exams."
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/amanzimtoti/amanzimtoti-news-schools?oid=4665020&sn=Detail&pid=4197417&Nose-broken-as-matric-girls-butt-heads
Rachel Hale on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=600822654&sk=info
Credibility: UP DOWN 0