Bullies in School

We all know that bullying goes on in public schools and we know that most of the time the teacher's ignore that it is going on and principals usually do nothing about it. I have heard teachers say that being bullied builds character and children need to learn how to deal with bullies. I have also heard that the child brings it on themselves. In some cases even the teachers become part of the bullying, by calling the child names like dork or laughing along with children while the one child is being bullied. I believe that some children even learn their verbal bullying skills from some of their teachers.

The sad truth is, is that bullying leads not only to depressed, angry children but suicidal children. I have seen a child bullied so much, that he was rocking back and forth, not wanting to talk to anyone. He finally opened up to my husband and began to tell him about a group of boy bullies at school that had been bullying him. We decided that we needed to get involved. This boy went to the same school as our children and was only one grade older than our daughter. We first decided to take him home and talk to his mother. I also immediately called a friend who was a counselor and got some information from him on how to help this boy.

The boy's mother said that she had complained to the school numerous times and they had done nothing. This child had come home with some serious bruises from having his arm pinned between two desks, and that was just the most recent event that had happened to him. When we asked him how long it had been going on, the reply was for the last two years. This boy was at his breaking point. Something had to be done. I finally asked if she had talked to these boys' parents. Her reply to me was, "No, these parents don't care what their kids do!" "Well," I said, "Give me the bullies names and I will at least try and talk to their parents."

My husband and I went to talk to each parent of the children involved. Not one, had ever in the two years that their boys had been bullying this child had ever received a phone call or a note from the school. The parents had no idea that it had been going on and were ashamed that their children where a part of it. The one boy's older brother told his parents that he had told his little brother to quite teasing this child because one day he may just bring a gun to school. We informed each parent that if it didn't stop that we would get charges pressed against the boy's. (We didn't say what kind of charges, because I really don't know if there's anything that they could be charged with.) After our visit with the parents, things did get better at school for the little boy, but the boy needed to see a counselor.

My suggestion for bullies is to take it directly to the parents of the bullies and have the meeting face to face, not over the phone. Then go into the principal's office face to face. Tell him that if it does not stop that you will sue the school for not keeping the school facility safe for your child. You may also want to know, that you can be at your childs school at any time in any room with them. If they say you can't, then go into your principal's office and check in and tell them that you are going to classes with your child because you feel like he is not safe on school property. Then when they say you cannot do it, tell them to do what they need to do because you as a parent, need to do what you need to do to keep you child safe. Then walk to your childs classroom. If they call the police or school security guards and have you escorted off the premises, then make sure that the six o'clock news gets called and go back the next day and do it again.

Also, cameras' can be put up in hallways and classrooms. I say if a school does not want them, then a school has something to hide.