Anthony Albanese has been involved in a fight at a primary school candy store, where a mother and son have clashed with the parent-teacher association.
Jaxon Durer Sparks was banned from the Perth school’s cafeteria by the Hocking Elementary School Protection and Enforcement Department after his mother sent a firm email last year complaining about a lunch order she hadn’t received.
“I am furious at the utter incompetence you continue to display, you need to find a new career because you are too stupid,” wrote Natalie Durer.
Other comments in the email included: “Can you actually read?”, “You clearly have no ability to do this job,” and “If I could report you for child abuse, I would.”
With the benefit of hindsight and having seen the consequences for her son, Ms Durer now admits her comments were a little harsh.
“It was not a pleasant email,” Dürer said. 9News“I said some pretty provocative things.”
She said she wrote an apology to the P&C – a one-word email that simply said “I’m sorry” – but to no avail, Jaxon is still banned from school and has to bring his own lunch to school every day.
And he doesn’t like not being able to do what his classmates and friends do.
The principal of Hocking Elementary School banned Jaxon Durer Sparks (pictured) from the lunchroom after his mother sent him a strident email last year complaining about a lunch order she hadn’t received.
Natalie Durer (pictured left) has to make lunch for her son Jaxon (right) every day.
“I really want to feel like everyone else and be able to order in the dining room,” she said.
One of Jaxon’s friends even tried to ask him for food. But after staff discovered her attempt to get him his favourite butter chicken dish, they told his mother that she would also face a ban if she did it again.
Ms. Durer sent a second email in May to apologize for her earlier message.
“For the sake of my son, let me apologize unreservedly for any issues that have arisen as a result of my emails to the ladies in the dining hall,” she wrote.
However, on Wednesday, the P&C confirmed that the ban on the use of the dining room would remain in place.
“As an employer, we have an obligation to our canteen staff to comply with WHS regulations to provide a safe physical and online working environment,” he said.
‘We also follow the Hocking Elementary School behavior management plan and code of conduct while on school premises.’
On Friday, the Prime Minister intervened, perhaps relieved to be asked about something other than the cost of living and interest rates.
“Oh, give the boy something to eat,” said Mr. Albanese.
“Seriously, the boy should not be involved in this discussion. He is 11 years old. Some common sense needs to be applied and I think that will be the case.”
Premier Anthony Albanese (pictured) has called for Jaxon to be allowed back into his school canteen.
But the Prime Minister’s intervention has still failed to lift Jaxon’s dining room ban.
“They are punishing my son for my actions and that is wrong,” his mother said.
‘We teach our children that if their words or actions hurt other people, they should apologize, atone for what they’ve done, ask for forgiveness and move on.’
The WA Department of Education said that while it cannot order the P&C to lift the ban, it is working with it to reach a more reasonable resolution.
Meanwhile, Jaxon recently received a certificate of respect from his school. Now he just wants to be allowed to order food from the canteen like his friends do.