AN outraged mother said she plans to press criminal charges against the public school official she claimed beat her daughter leaving her with several bruises.

Mother-of-two Clarinda Bastian said she was called to C I Gibson high school on Thursday morning by her 15-year-old daughter who said she had been hit on the neck, back, arm and buttocks by an administrator.

The teen claimed the school official beat her with a metal rod wrapped in black tape because she thought she was skipping class. But the girl said she had a good reason to be outside of the classroom claiming she was late arriving to her second period class because she had stayed behind to copy notes off the chalkboard. She said when she arrived at the physical education class a few minutes late, the school's gym was locked so she and a few other girls waited under a tree. At this point a school official walked up to the group, hit her, and demanded that she go to class.

The girl claims she then went to her homeroom teacher to get a pass when the same school official caught up with the girls again and asked them to run ahead to class. But the official thought the girl was being disobedient and began wielding blows at her.

"All the girls who was with me, they run ahead, I was the only one behind and she told me to walk up. I wasn't walking fast enough for her so she hit me all up in my back. And then I told her she hit me on the neck with the stick, she said 'Good, I should have hit you some place else," said the girl, who claimed she was hit more than five times.

The teenager has a large bruise on her left arm and right buttock and complains of pains in her neck and back. She told The Tribune she is afraid to return to school because she may be targeted by the official.

The school's principal, Ms Elaine Williams, told The Tribune it was not the official's intent to harm the child.

"Administrators are empowered to punish, of course it's always expected that you punish properly, but there was a whole situation with this child. She kept putting her hand in the way -- it was not a deliberate something on my administrator's part," she said.

Ms Williams said she had requested that Ms Bastian and her daughter come to her office yesterday so she could assess the extent of the child's injuries. However, she said, they never showed up.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Minister of Education Carl Bethel said he was aware of the incident. He explained that corporal punishment was a legal form of disciple in public schools "where warranted" but only when carried out by a senior mistress, senior master, principal or vice-principal.

He added that he expected a full report on the incident, as is required whenever corporal punishment is administered in the public school system.

"This matter is a matter of concern in any event because it involved the infliction of some kind of corporal punishment -- in this case there will be a full report. It will have to be reviewed by senior officials in the ministry (who will determine) whether the punishment was proportionate. At that point the ministry will make its evaluation of the matter," said Mr Bethel.

In the meantime, Ms Bastian said she is frustrated because she feels the school has not taken the incident seriously.

She has filed a complaint with police.

source Taneka Thompson - Tribune