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School launches race probe after four-year-old spits at a black boy during game of chase

Last updated at 17:22pm on 19.10.07

A boy of four was investigated for racism after spitting at a black pupil during a game of chase.

Rocky Smith's headmistress launched the probe after the other boy, aged ten, complained about his behaviour.

Eventually it was concluded that Rocky had been "naughty" rather than anything more sinister after staff at Bedenham Primary School in Gosport, Hampshire, spoke to both children.

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Young Rocky Smith, standing outside his school here, had been accused of racism after spitting at a black schoolmate

But Rocky's parents Sarah and Iain Smith are angry that the matter was taken so far because they say son their son is too young to know what "racist" means.

Racism campaigners have also expressed surprise at the school's actions although they concede that even very young children can be racist. Yesterday mother of six Mrs Smith, 35, said: "Rocky was wrong for lashing out and I've spoken to him about that, but how can a fouryearold be racist?

"His best friend at nursery was a boy of Indian background - colour doesn't mean anything to him. I think he deserves an apology."

A nursery nurse was assigned to speak to Rocky about the breaktime incident on the day it happened, while headmistress Anne Phipps heard the other boy's version of events.

Mrs Smith said the first she knew about it was when the school rang her to tell her the outcome later that day.

Mr Smith, 37, a taxi driver, added: "Rocky hasn't got a clue what racism means."

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Head teacher Anne Phipps has defended her decision to investigate the race complaint

Tunde Bright-Davies, chairman of the Racial Harassment Forum in the neighbouring city of Portsmouth, said: "A very young child can hate another person because of the colour of their skin.

"But in this incident, there was no name calling, no racial connotation, no "get away from me", and you can't found racism on just spitting.

"I don't know why it was investigated as a racist incident."

Meanwhile, Rocky's long-term future at the school still remains in the balance.

His parents fear he might yet be excluded for his behaviour and are due to meet Mrs Phipps next week.

Yesterday Mrs Phipps defended her decision to launch a racism investigation despite Rocky's age.

She said: "When a child makes an allegation of any kind, whether it's bullying, racism, or general unhappiness, we investigate by talking to them. We couldn't dismiss this.

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Rocky's father Iain, pictured here with his son, and mother Sarah are furious at the allegations

"A nursery nurse spoke to Rocky and I spoke to the older boy. We talked to them about what happened and why it might have happened.

"In this case a little boy did think something had happened and felt he had been singled out.

"But after investigating I decided this was not the case, it was just naughty behaviour."

Bedenham Primary School has more than 200 pupils ranging in age from four to ten.

In its last Ofsted report, the school was judged to be excellent in the category of pupils' care, welfare, health and safety.

The school has a student council, trained staff who are available at break times for the children to talk to about any problems and teaches the RRR curriculum - Rights, Responsibility and Respect - which all classes discuss at the start of the year.

Reader views (13)

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This woman has exhibited that she has no proper judgement whatsoever. She should be removed from her position as quickly as possible. The "state" and its politically correct puppets are out of control and must be brought back under control - quickly.

- Disgusted, London, 07/07/2008 23:48
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The UK is absolutly crazy and masochist. Uk is dead!

- Patrice Sainty, Paris / France, 07/07/2008 23:27
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A very clear over reaction, let's hope the Head Teacher takes time to think before making a similar decision in the future.

- Mike, Bedford England, 19/10/2007 15:45
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Anne Phipps should be involved with school education not politicall correctness experiments!

- Stevo, London, 19/10/2007 15:43
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Shock horror. Little boys spit at each other. I'll never sleep again with worry.

- Bj, London, England, 19/10/2007 15:36
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They are children and as we all know children say and do the most hurtful things. Have you investigated what promted the spitting in the first place. Stop making a mounting out of a molehill and causing more problems within your school.

- Minime, South East England, 19/10/2007 15:12
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I agree with Trevor, the incident needed to be investigated and was. Well done the headteacher! What the mother and father should be worried about is why their son thinks that he can spit at anyone and how desperate the family seem to be to get publicity out of the incident.

- Sally, London, 19/10/2007 14:40
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Maybe this incident just shows one thing and that is how much 10yr olds are clued up on the law as it stands to them.

There were no remarks made at all by the four year old and yet someone had to have added racisim to the act be it the 10 yr old or the head teacher.

- Pat, Sussex, 19/10/2007 14:37
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Whatever the rights and wrongs of this story - what 4 year olds spit at other kids, and think that is acceptable?

- Gary Parker, Amersham, 19/10/2007 14:19
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Can I just raise the question that if this child had spat at a 'white' child how would this be treated? Why is it that race always seems to be brought into situations that can also happen to anyone.

- Anon, London, UK, 19/10/2007 14:09
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Another case of my darling child can never be wrong. I think the 4 year old should have known better than to spit at another child. He was wrong and should be told off by his parents instead of being photographed with a spoilt sulky look on his face. This is where and why our society is breaking down.

- Jk, London, 19/10/2007 14:04
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Trevor: Outrage if they hadn't investigated?

Has everyone gone mad? So a boy spits at another -big deal? Are we going to enter into media-fuelled investigations every time there is a school fight. Give me a break.

- S, Peckham, 19/10/2007 14:01
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Good God, can you imagine the outrage had they not investigated, they were simply covering their own posteriors.

- Trevor Roll, London, 19/10/2007 13:34
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