My son has been falsely accused of stealing at school, although the culprit has been found. He is teased and the children are calling him a thief. What should I do to deal with this situation?

Stealing is unacceptable in any school or classroom and the behaviour requires zero tolerance as it infringes the right of pupils and staff to feel safe.

The reasons why this child stole in your son’s class and why many children choose to steal are many and varied and these must be revealed and understood in order to stop on-going stealing.  I highly recommend you speak to the teacher and school principal again. They need to establish a POSITIVE ethos in the school. A good idea would be to have a topic on ‘stealing’ a statement by children, teachers, all school members…“We are a safe school, we respect people and their belongings and nobody takes what is not theirs in our school.” Implying pride in themselves and the school.  This will most certainly help with your son’s situation. 

The school needs to set ground rules in the classroom about taking, borrowing, damaging others property – individuals and the school community.  In order to prevent the stealing continuing, the perpetrator needs to face the possible reasons for their misbehaviour.  I can understand your concern and that’s why you have a right to offer ideas on prevention to the principle as a concerned mother.

Every year it seems I always have a few incidences in my class where someone steels something.  I offer classroom discussions this can be a valuable process for students to consider the implications of stealing, taking, or damaging others’ property – individual or community, and best given through case studies. e.g. Pedros found some money on the school ground and popped it into his pocket. Maria wanted a pretty scarf she saw everyone admiring on the new girl. She stole one from the shop. They discuss such issues and then state what they have learned from their discussions.  This will bring better awareness to the other children in the class and again help with your son’s situation.

Support your child.  Talk to him and help him understand explain to him the situation as honestly as you can.  Let him know you are proud of him for being a big boy in this frustrating time.  This will pass but keep a close eye.  Make a point every few days until the situation passes to follow up with the class teacher.