A school damaged. Trashed. Destroyed. Windows smashed, electrical wiring torn out, desks and preparatory work destroyed.
A $100,000 damage bill leaving a school that had only been opened by the Education Minister 24 hours earlier like a war zone.
The vandalisation of the high school shocking enough but even worse, the ages of the alleged offenders.
Images of the damage to Kalgoorlie Boulder Community High School via WA Education.
Three boys aged just 13 and another boy who has just turned 10.
10-years-old.
An age where a young boy should be kicking a footy in the park, not ransacking a government building in the middle of the night. When a boy should be talking about the newest favour paddle pop out this summer and competing with his mates as to who can do the greatest ollie on his skateboard.
A 10-year-old who should be, in the dark of a weekend night, asleep in his bed with a loving parent or relative nearby watchful enough, and sober enough, to ensure their 10-year-old charge was safe.
But sadly this 10-year-old who allegedly committed this loathsome crime wasn’t safe or asleep. As the wheels of justice turn with his arrest and that of his three mates, talk has turned to how he really should be punished- if the allegations against him are proven true - and it’s not rehabilitation or engagement that authorities are calling for.
Nope it's a stick. A whack. A good hard beating with a cane is what the mayor of Kalgoorlie is calling for.
The young boy and the three teens arrested are from the Western Australian mining town of Kalgoorlie, a town in the spotlight this year after the death in August of 14-year-old Aboriginal boy Elijah Doughty, who was allegedly deliberately run down while riding a stolen motorbike.
Top Comments
Common assault is not going to show children anything. The first thing that needs to happen is these kids need to be made to clean up the damage they have caused. Their parents also need to be held accountable, with either fines or charges applying. Lastly, these kids and their families need to be put into some sort of program that gets them more engaged in the community, so that they can see how their actions affect others. It's such a cop out to think that beating people does anything positive to help anyone.
Oh please! Why is it that hardly any kids were vandals years ago when corporal punishment was used in schools? Why is it that children as young as 10 are being vandals now? Because they are NOT being disciplined or smacked at home, that's why! The Mayor is absolutely right, and those like the author are part of the problem and deep in denial.