TWO Northland school students have been banned from school for five days after taking a folding knife to class.
Two 13-year-old Tauraroa Area School students have been referred to the Whangarei Police youth aid section following the discovery of a knife on Friday.
Principal Grant Burns said the boys did not brandish
the knife at anyone or make any threats, but other classmates notified teachers there was a knife.
It's alleged one of the boys passed the knife to another, who then hid it in a bush. Teachers found the knife and handed it over to police.
Parents of both students were called to the school and following a meeting they were stood down until Friday.
Mr Burns said the school had taken the matter seriously and contacted police.
"The school has dealt with it concisely and promptly. I'm full of praise for the students who spoke up and the teachers who took prompt action," Mr Burns said.
"It's something we won't tolerate at the school."
A concerned parent, who did not want to be named, said he feared for his own children's safety when others were taking knives to school.
"They might be away for a couple of days but eventually they'll be back and they won't stop bringing the knives," he said.
"It's violence in our community and it's got to stop."
Mr Burns said he had made exhaustive enquires and was satisfied there had been no threats made with the knife.
