Student attacks teacher with saw

A Mackenzie College teacher wounded by a student who repeatedly slashed him with a saw, was centimetres from being paralysed in the arm. The teacher remains on sick leave after the attack, which happened just over two weeks ago. Marrek Hignett, the 19-year-old son of the teacher, said his father was ‘‘attacked viciously multiple times by a student in his class’’. ‘‘He was attacked with a file and then had a saw swung repeatedly into his arm, nearly damaging his nerve endings and permanently paralysing his arm,’’ Hignett said. Hignett said his father was ‘‘physically doing well – but I am afraid that his mental wellbeing has taken a real hit’’. Mackenzie College principal Jason Reid said the student had not yet returned to the Fairlie school and ‘‘will not do so until we are confident that the interventions in place are robust’’. Reid said the need for confidentiality meant the school, which had a roll of 183 as of July 2020, was unable to publicly address details relating to the incident. ‘‘I am very open to answering queries and addressing concerns that our parents may have.’’ He said the school was working ‘‘very hard’’ to balance the needs of its community with ‘‘very strict privacy constraints’’. One concerned parent said her children were worried about going back to school after the attack. Hignett said his father was now considering whether to continue teaching after a 21-year career.