Sydney mum seeks $50,000 in compensation from school after staff member's alleged shocking comment about her son
Kathleen Jones self-filed documents to the Federal Circuit and Family Court following her nine-year-old son's suspension from northwest Sydney 's Santa Sophia Catholic College.
The mother claimed the school suspended and later expelled her son due to him having ADHD, autism and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.
One of the most shocking claims in her lawsuit was that a staff member had compared her nine-year-old son to 'the Bondi stabber', seemingly referring to mass murderer Joel Cauchi, during a one-on-one meeting with her.
The war between the mother and school began after her son allegedly struck a child with a pencil and scratched another student with a pencil sharpener or a paperclip, based on varied reports.
Santa Sophia Catholic College had found the pencil incident was 'unprovoked' and involved 'significant harm', but Ms Jones claimed it did not consider the 'emotional harm' her son suffered after a student called him a 'retard', The Australian reported.
Following the first incident, the school recommended the nine-year-old be put into an education setting better tailored to his needs.
Ms Jones claimed such a setting didn't exist.
She requested the school either redistribute its resources, engage with her son's existing health professionals at no cost, or for staff to take neurodivergence training.
However, the school allegedly responded that it had exhausted all available resources to assist her son.
Instead, it suggested the nine-year-old be relocated to a smaller Catholic school.
The boy was expelled from schools in the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese just months later after the mother refused to voluntarily remove him.
Ms Jones claimed the school 'responded to disability-related behaviour with punitive measures rather than support' and punished her son for 'for behaviour linked to his disability (emotional dysregulation) without considering his disability or implementing appropriate behavioural supports'.
She claimed the school's response was 'direct discrimination'.
On top of a $50,000 compensation, the mother is seeking an apology from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.
She said 'the exclusion from school has entrenched a state of isolation and fear' in her son.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese declined to comment due to the ongoing legal battle.
It is required to file a defence against Ms Jones' allegations by June 9.
The Independent Education Union was unable to comment directly on the matter but said 'constant struggle to find a balance between the rights of a child with behaviour issues and the rights of other students and staff'.
NSW/ACT branch secretary Carol Matthews noted it was important for schools to protect staff and children.
'Members regularly report challenging behaviour from students as a major workload stress,' she told the outlet.
Ms Matthews added 'teachers are constantly calling for additional staff to support children with extra needs'.
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