Australian Teacher calls disruptive student a terrorist: So he started throwing tables and punching walls and destroying stuff'

THE student at the center of the school "terrorist" row has defended himself in an exclusive audio interview with The Daily Telegraph Online.

Wagih "Zac" Fares has been slammed by readers today after we revealed how he punched a wall and threw tables in a school hallway in a violent rage after being called a "terrorist" by a teacher.

This afternoon he has said he was stressed because his family was worried about relatives in war-torn Lebanon.

He has also said he can never return to Blakehurst High School while the teacher is there.

Of the more than 300 comments we have received, most blasted Wagih, 16. Many also sharply criticised teacher Michael Seymour, who faces an anti-discrimination board complaint after the classroom confrontation, revealed by The Daily Telegraph on the anniversary of the Cronulla riots.

The clash exploded at Blakehurst High School when legal studies teacher Mr Seymour told Wagih, after a classsroom altercation, "I don't want to negotiate with a terrorist."

Outraged by the slur, Wagih, 16, punched the classroom wall and door before running from the school pursued by Mr Seymour in his car.

Wagih shouted: "I'm not a terrorist. How can you call me a terrorist? Do you know what is happening around the world?"

He said Mr Seymour replied: "I'm sorry, Zac. Please don't run. I'm sorry, just calm down." After returning to the school Wagih picked up tables in a hallway and threw them, again screaming: "I'm not a terrorist."





Right: Click the Photo to hear the audio interview
[Available for a limited time]


Mr Seymour, a teacher for 20 years, was reprimanded and ordered to attend a multicultural sensitivity course.

It was found Mr Seymour had not intended to shock, embarrass or humiliate Wagih but his family claim Wagih he has lost all confidence and his self-esteem.

Unhappy about the school's handling of the matter and concerned about Wagih's future treatment at the school as he enters his HSC year, the Fares family, of Brighton-le-Sands, has lodged a complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Board. They want Mr Seymour kicked out of the school.

Fallout from the incident comes as the Iemma Government and police are desperately trying to avert a resurgence of racial and cultural violence.

Sensitivities among communities of Middle Eastern background – particularly in the Sutherland Shire and the areas around it – are still running high a year after the riots. Wagih's sister Zena said yesterday the family wanted Mr Seymour, a highly regarded teacher, transferred out of Blakehurst High because her brother was now "frightened" of him and his presence would affect his work.

In a statement to the Anti-Discrimination Board – a copy of which has been obtained by The Telegraph – she said: "My brother was already dealing with difficult issues as this incident happened during the time of the war in Lebanon – we didn't even know if our family was dead or alive."
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BB:
School seems to have changed so much, when I was at school we were more worried about learning than making up for a lack of scholastic progress by creating cheap political statements.


OK so the teacher shouldn't have called him a terrorist. class clown, ego centric and disobedient, drama queen, and a few other terms but not terrorist'.


Next episode will be the I've failed miserably and its that nasty teacher's (who has taught for 20 years without a complaint) fault. I'm going sue for compensation for catching moron syndrome.

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