FRIGHTENED parents want to pull their children out of a Darwin primary school after a student brandishing knives threatened to kill her teacher.
One parent also claims that school staff tried to cover up the incident by telling students, who were not in the class where the incident occurred, not to tell their parents what happened.
The Northern Territory News understands the incident happened about 2pm last Thursday at a northern suburbs primary school.
A parent said the female student pulled two knives from her bag and, in front of the rest of the class, told the teacher she was going to kill her.
The Northern Territory News has decided not to publish the name of the school or the class involved.
The paper first made inquiries about the incident late on Thursday, but at the time Education Department media officer Steve Mullins denied any knowledge of the incident.
Police were also unaware of the incident at that time.
Several of the children who witnessed the threat were so traumatised they needed counselling.
One parent, who did not wish to be named, said they believe the school is ``covering up'' the incident.
``My kids were told by their teachers not to tell us what happened,'' the distraught parent told the Northern Territory News yesterday.
``They don't want to go back to school now.
``It's not a safe school _ it makes me feel sick inside to think of what could happen next.
``This is Darwin for God's sake, not America.''
Department of Education acting deputy chief executive for schools John Dove confirmed an incident occurred but said the department was not prepared to answer ``questions about specific details''.
Mr Dove said nobody was hurt and that a letter had been sent home to the parents of children who were in the class.
``The situation was very quickly resolved by the teachers in the classroom, ensuring the safety of all students and staff,'' he said.
``There was no violence and nobody was harmed.''
http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,18615957%255E13569,00.html
Quote:
This is Darwin for God's sake, not America.
australia...anti-american???...nooooooooooo