“A Gisborne school is fighting to save an 11-year-old boy from a life of crime after his mother bragged he had already passed Mongrel Mob* initiation tests.

 The boy is said to already be running his own gang which includes some 18-year-olds.

But Awapuni School principal David Langford says he is being hampered by a lack of early intervention support for pupils with severe behavioural problems.

The boy was excluded from his first primary school in 2006, aged eight, after a series of violent incidents including bringing a baseball bat to school, crushing a pupil’s hand with a chair leg, and assaulting and injuring children.

That principal, who did not want to be named, said the boy had been behaving violently since his first day at the school as a five-year-old.

The principal also said the boy’s mother had recently boasted to educational professionals that her son had passed gang prospect tests.

“This is a child we are talking about who was encouraged to complete criminal acts,” she said. The boy, whose father had been a Mongrel Mob leader, is known to police.

The boy was described by a psychiatrist as a predatory assailant several years ago and is now believed to be running his own gang, which Langford said included some members who were aged 18.” – http://www.stuff.co.nz/4739968a11.html

I think this is a disgrace. I think there should be more done to support this boy and lead him away from the path he is straying down. Such as counselling, or maybe his parents just need to be more strict and keep a better eye on him. This story just goes to show how gang culture is affecting New Zealand’s children- I don’t think it’s fair to be exposed to crime and violence at such a young age. Especially in this case- the boy was obviously exposed to the world of gangs through his father, who was apparently a Mongrel Mob member. My opinion is that all gangs need to be cracked down on. You know that it is getting out of control when younger and younger people are getting involved. I don’t know that this boy is the youngest child to ever be involved in a gang, but I do know that the last thing New Zealand needs is another one.

* Mongrel Mob-a New Zealand gang.

~ To help finish the school magazine on time, and put as much of my input in as possible.

I can do this by helping organize and collect the articles/pictures.

~ To learn and master my dance for jazz dancing before the end of year show.

I can do this by concentrating in lessons, and not continuing until I have mastered each step.

~ To try to the best of my ability in Athletics and hopefully make it into the interschools.

I can do this by training hard and trying out for the sports I am most able in.

~ To balance school and home work effectively and hand them in on time.

I can do this by prioritizing with due dates, and working hard.

~ To perform well with my drama group in the grandparent’s concert.

I can do this by rehearsing lots, and avoiding stage fright.

This last term has been very busy, with Cross Country, speeches, schoolwork, Wearabe Arts, Ski Trip, dancing exams, and trombone competitions, so I am very glad to finally have a chance to put my feet up. But I’m not saying that the last 10 weeks haven’t been rewarding! I managed to scrape 14th in Cross Country, 2nd in the Speech Finals, 2nd in trombone competitions, and 2nd in the Wearable Arts finals for my category! I have also particpated in jazz dancing and essay competitions which have results yet to come. The Ski Trip was very fun too. A group of us went up and stayed on a lodge at Mount Ruapehu for a week, and went skiing every day. But unfortunately, I came back with no voice, and a bad cold.

Which is why I am pretty grateful for our two week school holidays. They haven’t been too eventful so far- I was lying on the couch with a box of Strepsils, a book, and a box of tissues for most of the first week. And, despite the resulting cold from my first try, I bravely went skiing again for a day on my way to Taupo! (Bad idea- there was a terrible blizzard. But at least I managed to thaw out my frostbitten fingers and toes on the remaining car ride to the resort!) We stayed in Taupo with my auntie, uncle, and two little cousins for about 5 days. I made sure to pack a lot of tissues! In our time there, we went swimming in the hot pools, we had a look around the shops, and we went bike riding a lot. (Which, by the way, resulted in me getting lost in the backyard of a marae, and almost skidding into the Huka Falls!!)

We arrived back from Taupo a few days ago. In the days that have followed, I went to the movies with a friend, went to my best friends house and went to the movies again, and picked up the phonebooks that we have to deliver sometime this week. I don’t know how I managed to come back from Taupo with no cold, but I am definitely not complaining! And plus, my voice is back! (I can scream again!)