Little Warren Iraq is five today. He’s been something of a problem child. Never out of trouble, always in the papers, some people have said he’s symptomatic of what’s wrong with the world today. He’s something of a talisman to those who want to see a better and fairer society.

Others have said that Warren shows how we can extend our values to even the the most unfortunate. Educational psychologists have made themselves rich examining the behaviour of this singular boy. He is all things to everybody.

Here, in an exclusive extract, is a report compiled by concerned teachers and parents to the governors of Warren’s school recommending that he be expelled. Questions are also being asked about whether the governors can remain in their jobs after their handling of this affair.

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When Warren came to this school at the insistence of the governors, one of his classmates, Saddam Hussein, left very suddenly not long afterwards. It was felt that class discipline would improve with the departure of Saddam whose behaviour had been giving us concern for quite some time.

Unfortunately, Warren has his own issues and has proved to be something of a handful as well. Hopes that the atmosphere in the classroom would improve were not realised, with Warren displaying much of the same bad behaviour as Saddam[1]. Despite the school being put under ’special measures’ we must express concern at the failure to lift standards.

Of course, our school provides for pupils with special needs. Warren has had a number of teaching assistants and other helpers who have come and gone over the years. We have been dismayed to say the least see his lack of gratitude and sometimes outright hostility to some of his carers. The governors have also failed to provide sufficient support, equipment and care. Many teaching assistants and helpers have retired through stress-related ill-health and some have felt compelled to move to other schools.[2]

The effect of Warren’s behaviour on those around him has been noted with alarm. He has an alarming tendency to lash out even at those he he considers his friends. One of the boys who sits next to Warren is clearly a bad influence on him.

We have also been concerned at the number of other pupils who have left the school since Warren arrived. Some have gone to neighbouring schools while some have moved even further afield. Attempts by the authorities to persuade families to return to the school have failed. This being the case, there are moves to reallocate children to the school against their preference[3].

Teachers and classroom assistants have been disgusted at some of the language Warren uses in the classroom. C*llateral d*mage, c*vil*an c**ntractor, *xtr**rdin*ry r*ndit**n, and fr**ndly f*re are just some of the revolting things he comes out with in his everyday speech[4].

In an attempt to engage Warren with the running of his class, he was made register monitor. Unfortunately this has proved something of a disaster. Somewhere between 150,000 and one million of Warren’s classmates are apparently now absent with Warren making such a mess of the register it is impossible to know how many pupils are on the school roll.

Warren is also given to wanton acts of vandalism. The school playing field will remain unsafe for the other children for some time to come and Warren is slow to help repair the damage he has caused. While proof is difficult to come by and the facts are disputed, we have good reason to believe that Warren has taken large sums of money from the school office.

The investment promised by the governors to upgrade the school to suit Warren’s needs has either failed to materialise or been misspent. The school’s drinking fountain is still broken while the Olympic size swimming pool that was built in the staff room and the sports cars in some of the governors’ parking spaces have raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, the toilets are blocked and we have struggled to recruit a school nurse. The wisdom of some of the governors promising the school a trip to Disneyland must be questioned.

We must also note our dismay at governors’ attempts to stop teachers and assistants from speaking out on the problems at the school caused by Warren. Many have felt unable to speak out after witnessing others who have been punished, demoted or sacked after doing so[5].

The neglect that Warren has suffered at the hands of his parents should also be mentioned. One left in July last year and has not visited or been in contact at all since. His other parent is leaving his job in January next year and has yet to say how he plans to continue to emotionally and financially support his son.

In closing we must express our sympathy for Warren. What is evident is that this young boy has, along with the reasons for him coming to this school, been abused. He has been abandoned by those who demanded he be sent here. He has been the victim of naive and too high expectations. He was a young boy for who many had high hopes. Others have seen their warnings at what might happen come true. We remain extremely worried about Warren Iraq and those coming into contact with him.

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This post was written as part of the March 19 Iraq War Blogswarm. There’s a list on the website of all the other participants.

Things you can do today
[1] Join Amnesty International (for a little as £2 a month). Sign up for Human Rights Watch’s email alerts.
[2] Support the Iraqi interpreters. Send an email to your MP.
[3] Sign up to the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns‘ email list. Write a letter or email to assist one of their campaigns.
[4] Read Orwell’s Politics and the English Language or Poole’s Unspeak. Be mindful of your own use of language. Resist euphemisms and question the words used by vested interests.
[5] Send a freedom of information request about some detail the Iraq war to the government - it’s a simple process. Blog your response or pass it on to a blogger you like.