Prevent Bullying in Schools

As a child in 2nd grade, I had a friend who got bullied by this fat boy. I went to her defense. From the 2nd grade till I was in the 10th grade I was the object of what started out as me doing the right thing, turning into me being bullied. At first him then eventually the entire school. At this time, there was no jr. high, just grade school and high school.
It started out with the title he gave me; fleas. Then it went to everyone acting afraid of me lest they get them also. They actually ran when I walked down the halls at school! Then came the sabatoge of my locker and belongings. The stealing of my school books. Then P.E. they stole my cloth’es. In home EC. they spoiled whatever I cooked or sewed.
Then one day I was attacked after school. This was in the 5th grade. It went on every day til I was 16. Then I quit school, ran away from home; and I never stopped until I was in my late 50’s.
I went through life not trusting anyone, hateing everyone. I, with my hate ruined my first marriage. I became a loner. I even beat up 3 men who I found beating up women! I ran with bikers and the male bikers said they wouldn’t ever get me mad for fear of what I’d do.
This is the direct result of school yard bullying.
The teachers were in on it. The cop’s did nothing. As neither did anyone’s parents and my parents were drunks and never home.
People need to see that those kids who do the bullying are the direct result of how they are raised. Kid’s can be the cruelist people in the world. But they had to learn it somewhere……and it’s 9 time out of 10; it was their parents.
Someone really needs to break this chain of events!
I’m actually surprised I lived through it!

Now that the scope of bullying in schools in universally acknowledged, let’s be careful that we don’t put the entire responsibility of bullying prevention on the students, especially those who are victimized. Students should report incidents, yes, but they should have an anonymous means of doing so.
To eradicate this problem, we need to train teachers in proper ways of intervention. We need teachers, principals and school support staff to model respectful behavior, as well as parents. Bullied children often become the aggressors.

I think that if students are being bullied that they should report it immediatly and that the parents of the bully will be held responsible for there child who bullys kids in schools. I hope and prey that these kids will be safe in schools and remain safe for the rest of there lives. May the lord look down on all schools across the country and keep the schools as safe as possible.

i too was bullied in grade school and in high school. i got called names and got threatened. i think it is different now, than when i was in school. it doesn’t seem like kids are bullies anymore. i guess there is a lot being done nowadays. i wish it would of been like that when i was in school.

My 14 year old daughter is overweight and is ridiculed daily for it. A day does not go by that she is not reminded that she is different. We are working with the school (high school) to stop this. We have had to put her in counseling because of the constant ridicule. She does not want to go to school anymore. I don’t blame her. I am 40 and I too went through this. But, I learned to defend myself and it helped. My daughter is afraid that she will get beat up if she says anything. I wish I could say that things are better now days, but it is just not the case.

Bullying does effect everything . My child went through 3 yrs. of counseling (to help her heal from another matter.) How to deal with bullies was constantly talked about. My child used the methods taught her. The school staff was just to busy or not trained properly in dealing with bullying. Needless to say I am homeschooling my child now. She was failing 2 subjects , middle school was a new thing and on trial. I’ve pulled her out for a year or two, to help her get caugh up. Maybe by then, the school system will be better at deal with bullying(YEAH Right)

I have a second grader who is being bullied. Is it okay at this age to contact the parents (acutally, a single mom.)

Dear Dee,
In my eyes, any parent who wants to know what is going on should be allowed to have all information. You as a single parent, has just as much right to know how your child is being diciplined,and why,?, Because what I,ve learned is that there are a few kids, very good at bulling, and the aides have their favorates(usually the bullies) Like I’ve said, the bullies are good. And your kid and mine will be the targets. If the principal won’t do anything or blows off your asking for a meeting, Then call the Board of education. Make an appt. Do your best not to share too much over the phone. More chance of problem hidden before you can even share your and yours. (Spoken from past experience) I had a principal tell me that I do not have a right to know if my child is being disiplined, I do not have any right to know how or why she was punished.?. BULL POO-POO, You as your child’s parent, HAVE EVERY right on this good green earth…to …know everything going on. They can and have used intimidation, if you could have someone go to the meeting with you(I,m a single mom as well). If not, then I,m praying That the Lord is there, and I in my heart will be there. I’ve had to go alone( black bear mamahood to help my kid:)) Somehow things would be said and done. Also have them put it in writting, what their plan is, what you have all agreed on, and get a copy of it.(PLEASE)

i was involved in a bullying situation at age 15. i am now 35. i was shot in the head. i now speak in schools on prevention of violence and bullying. i help students and faculty better communicate any verbal, physical or emotional bullying they see go on in their schhols and communities. it is very important kids speak up in order to save a friend

when i was in grade school i was a bully i did not know the effect it took. until the person i use to bully confronted me as a adult .I was sick on my stomach at my self i wanted to crawl under a rock that day an cry because i’m a parent . and i would not like it if some one bullied my children.and still to this day every time i see this young man i apoligize.

This topic makes me sick. I have an infant and cannot think how I will cope if in the future he gets bullied the way these kids are nowdays. A girl being beaten by 5 other girls and a boy getting beat everytime the bullies see him. I think I will go to jail because if the school does not do something and their parents care less I will maybe give them the same medicine so they can see how it feels.

It is sad to hear my 12 year old told me that in the School, if you don’t bully others then you will be the victims of bully! My 12 year old is a very smart boy and little for his age. His grades are good and he is Chinese and American mix kid. Some of his schoolmate tease him and call him names because he is different. They call him names like call him Gay and his name. I was working with School Offical to minimize this issue and in the mean time to teach my child to stand up for himself. The other kids will not stop calling names, and still keep on doing so. These kids think calling names are cool and however get other peoples’ attention. I stongly think that our School envirement should be safe and worry free. Those bullies need to go to a “Bully School” so they will all learn how it feel when they get bullied!

coachbernie,
you need to go to central elementary school in Miller, Mo and talk to the children and teachers.
The teachers tell you they will do something and then they don’t. One teacher told one of the parents that they need their breaks away from the children so they just let them out and let them go crazy. They do not look at what the children are doing when they are out playing. The teachers at this school do not care. They all tell you that they will help the first time that you go in after that they blow you and your child off. I think that if the teacher can’t show that they are trying to help they should be fined. I also think that the parents of the bullies should be fined or made to go to school with their child every day. My child was an A student and stayed on the honor roll; Now he cries everyday and does not want to go to school. The sad part is that I am a teacher at a school in different town and I can not put him my school because he is too old. Parents and teachers play a huge part when a child gets bullied it’s time they fix it when they are the cause it.

dear mrs. baird teachers and parents play the most important role. if things dont change at that school something tragic “will” occurr please respond if theres anything i can do

I am in high school and my dad was bullied in grade school i am now, he told me that when he was younger they would pull stupid pranks on him and now its meaner harsher and scary. i get made fun of for everything and it is hard not to say anything or say something to the bully…. but i did and now i learned to walk with my head held high because i know they can shoot me down and hurt my feelings but unless i believe it or know its true then it truly will never. The worst bullies are girls because they will tear and pick you apart, now yes i am one but i try to never ever say anything mean about or to anyone…its hard but i have always been picked on even before i started school, my sister, my cousins. so i think of it as how would that make me feel, now defending myself is a different story i stand up for myself and others….its hard but all i can say is LOVE ONE ANOTHER, people pick on you just try to brush it off and remember they are childern of god, it is hard but try and never hold your head down when they are picking on you look them in the eyes with your head held high.

I HATE BEING BULLIED! THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS WHO BULLIES ME AND I HATE IT

I have a 5 year old and she’s in kinder and the bullying has started I wish I could just pull her out, she’s not over weight she’s a gorgeous kid but she’s really shy and beacause of that there is a little girl who picks on her I have spoken to her teacher about it, and she stated that she could not do anything if my daughter did not tell her when it happened, I told her something will be done regardless, because if anything happens to my daughter it’s her job and pardon my french but also her ass.

When I went through school from grade school to 10th grade I was bullied. I was beaten and raped in high school. I told the police and the principle. “NOTHING” was done. I was called a liar. The ones who had done it were related to the police officers and higher up’s.
After that I quit school. I’m 52 years old and at times it seems like it was yesterday.
Now, I have a 17 year old son. Who has been beaten on, called names and so forth.
Ever since grade school I have been at every school to find out what the hell is going on!! I get told it’s being taken care of. Then that night my son comes home all black and blue and bloody.
I’m one pissed of mom!!
I have tried to make appointments with the Board of Education about the problems. “I WAS IGNORED!!” I have even e-mailed, wrote letters to the State Board of Education about what is going on in our schools. “I WAS IGNORED!” I have sent our congressmen letters and e-mails. I’m being “IGNORED!”
I sent an e-mail and letters to all of our radio staions in my area, plus, the t.v. stations, telling them about our schools here and what I had done. I also, told them how I was being “IGNORED!” Then I warned them that if, there is ever a school shooting and there are children and teachers that are killed, and someone says, “I didn’t have any idea it was this bad?” I will jump in my car and get my ass down there and call them, “A LIAR!” I will tell everyone how I tried to stop it, but “I WAS IGNORED!”
I have volunteered at one of my son’s school. The teachers are scared of the students! When the students are at PE, The teacher locks herself in her classroom. In every school he has attended are campus cops. All they do is sit in the front office all day long.
Two months ago a middle school girl knifed another girl on the school bus on the way to school. That was at one of my son’s old schools. The girl died on the school bus.There are 17 year old boys that go to my son’s school that have now been charged with murder. They have shot an old lady for her social sercurity check, another student and left him his body 12 miles from home.
It’s getting worse in schools. I’m scared that my son may be next. He use to be an “A student”, not anymore. His grades dropped to “F’s and D’s.” He wants to graduate so he can go to college to become a chef.
To me, I think that our schools, government officals, and other parents don’t realize how many students futures that they are ruining! I do’t have the money to send my son to college, and his grades aren’t going to get him in either.
Well, there’s one child’s future ruined!! How many millions more that are already ruined??
“COME ON PEOPLE, WAKE AND SMELL THE COFFEE. OUR CHILDREN ARE CRYING FOR OUR HELP!!! STOP IGNORING THEM!!”

My son was in the same school for six years, had friends and received good grades. His sixth grade year it all changed. He was bullied for being a minority amongst many hispanic children. When it started, he tried to handle it himself. No luck. The two boys turned all his friends against him by saying they would get beat up for hanging with my son. We went the next step when they called him ‘cracker’ in class and he got in trouble for trying to get them to stop because they were quiet about the name calling. We had a meeting with teachers and were told they knew about the bullying but could not do anything and that my son should get ‘thicker skin’. The prinicpal suggested we move to another school. We took it to the superintendent, he pushed us off. We eventually had to move because it was being alluded that our son was a potential ‘columbine waiting to happen’. He still has trouble but at the new school they listen and take care of things right then. The problem is EVERYONE’s responsibility. Parents who teach their children to hurt others should have to see what their children do. Parents of bullied children should be able to get help when they ask for it. Officials and teachers should listen and if they don’t what to do…..look high and lo for answers; not just blame the victim!!! We wonder why there are so many school shootings and talk about it after the fact. WAKE UP AMERICA!!! We don’t need any more messed up children or dead ones due to everyone ignoring the problem hoping it will ‘go away’. I’m a preschool teacher who teaches my children while they are young(parent too), that bullying is not ok. Hopefully the kids who leave my class will listen and do for themselves what others can’t or won’t do.

As a pre-teen, I was bullied (sort of) by a couple of girls, the ringleader who thought she was “perfect” in looks. I was overweight & wore glasses & got teased until my boiling point was reached & I fought her & put her in the hospital! I didn’t know I had that rage and anger inside of me until I was provoked by her & her crew. Her crew and everyone else dared never mess with me again! This was in the Seventies, but now, standing up to a bully can get you shot. I think bullying lies squarely with the parents and their inaction, then trickles down to the teachers & school administrators. Ultimately, the blame is with Society who has deep-rooted prejudice with anyone who is different, due to race, size, religion & sexual preference. And who is Society? all of us. I look back at the anger I had back then & wonder to myself, if I had been more motivated like the Columbine killers Kleibold & Harris & countless other campus shooters & had the means to acquire the weapons they did, would I have done the same? Probably not, since I condemn violence of any kind. But, Society has to understand that bullying & kids who are bullied due to not being “normal”and desenstitized (sp?) to violence (a-la You Tube, video games, TV, music videos, etc.) is the core problem. We have to teach our children tolerance of others before we see another Columbine or Virginia Tech.

I think the school system,period, and the police should stop sitting on their butts acting like this is just innocent kids taunting. The reason I say this is because, if we don’t get to the problem,when it happens, we will see another version of”Virginia Tech” or “Columbine High”! We need to be aware of a child coming to us for help because kids can FIND WAYS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES!

We moved to a new school district this year. Until now, I and my children had gone to country schools. I’m already very disappointed in our “city” schools. One specific incident involves a 7 year old girl threatening to kill my daughter and our neighbor’s son because she was told (by her parents) that we were responsible for her dad going to jail for distribution and federal weapons charges. What happened??? First off, the other mom and I were never contacted. Had the kids not told us, we wouldn’t have known. Second, the mom of the bully was brought to the school where she told them she was afraid her husband would kill her and the tables were turned. The girl didn’t even get an in-school suspension. Instead the mom was turned into the victim. We were told that this drama needs to remain at home and not be brought to school. I just don’t think that’s sufficient. How about resolving the problem or removing her from the situation? Oh - and by the way, there have been 2 more threats, although not on my children and still nothing has been done. THIS is how we end up with school shootings! Now, I will say this…I don’t by any means put the majority of the blame on the little girl. She has been abused extensively by her father, but without enough evidence to have her (and her infant brother) removed from the situation. Ultimately, though, I have to protect my children before I can protect the bully.

Although born in Canada, I didn’t speak a word of English when I entered school. Two years of ESL later, not only had I caught up, but I had gotten ahead of some of the other students. In Grade 2, I was reading at a Grade 4 level. This, combined with the ESL had kids calling me names like “retard.” Unfortunately, my looks were also a subject of ridicule. Since I don’t look like a “cosmo Girl” kids thought it was ok to bully me. There were times when I was physically abused - kids would pretend to be my friend and would play a ‘game’ involving a tennis ball. I don’t remember the details, but I do recall being hit with the tennis ball numerous times as part of the ‘game’. My mom and I complained numerous times to the school and if they didn’t ignore the problem, they made it worse. It wasn’t until we finally moved in the fourth grade that I was finally free of the abuse - more cautious and less trusting to be sure.

The end result? I had low self-esteem for years and still do at times. Since I had virtually no friends, my introverted and extroverted parts of my personality are constantly warring with each other. I don’t follow any religion (although I believe in God) since this all happened at a Catholic school and couldn’t fathom why this was allowed to happen since it seemed hypocritical of ‘good Catholics’ to do nothing. At one point in my high school career, I saw the unmistakeable signs of being excluded by my peers (one of the first things to happen before the bullying starts). Instinctively, I complained to a teacher, only to be told I was being “overly sensitive”.

While I have drawn strenght from these experiences, I still harbor resentment and emotional scarring from those years. Don’t expect your child to do the same. They’re children. I was lucky. The 5th grade introduced me to people who didn’t know I’d been bullied at my former school and I started off with a clean slate. Others are not so lucky. And if your child is the bully, don’t excuse it. Don’t think or verbalize for a second that their victim(s) will get over it. That’s a horrendous lie. If I ever saw any of the people that gave me a hard time in elementary school, I’d flee in the other direction. It not only lives with you for eternity, but it shapes who you are and who you wil become.

If you consider bullying some form of achievement, know only that karma can come back and bite you in the rear.

I agree with most people that it’s getting worse and it’s advanced into Facebook, MySpace and YouTube (and other forums). Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. There needs to be legislation. I was able to get away back then, but today, a child who switches schools can easily be named by their original tormenters online and be publicly singled out to members of their new school. The cycle can begin again anew elsewhere. Don’t let it happen.

Teachers and parents alike can’t discipline their children as much as they once did due to recrimination of such efforts by recognized ‘experts’. There was a time we could put a stop to it! Unfortunately the advice of the level of discipline allowed to be ministered to a minor (as dictated by the ‘experts’) wasn’t directed at parents/caregivers like them (they were referring to real abusers who don’t give a s***) and now kids think they can swear and abuse teachers whenever they want and are often as young as 4th or 5th graders.

Something needs to be done. Period.