Cyber & School Bullying
Holding Schools Accountable
My daughter has been to several schools in the past few years. She is quiet, kind and naive, which makes her vulnerable to bullying. We have been trying to sue the school she was at last. Not a single child in her small class would speak to her. She was called names and completely ostrasized. The school blamed her. We moved her to a public school where she was pretty much left alone. My lawyer tells me we don't have much of a case because my daughter didn't suffer severe emotional problems. Apparently, unless a child is suicidal the school can not be held liable. The laws need to be changes so that the ability to sue a school, that won't address bullying, is easier. The only thing these private schools care about is the bottom line. We need to be able to sue so they will think twice before they let bullying continue.
Patty
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Misty on -
I agree with you. Schools should be held accountable and take responsibility for what goes on in the school as well as what does on on school property.
I was bullied, picked on, made fun of and called names from elementary school through high school. In 3rd grade a guy pulled my hair all the time and the teacher made ME stay after while he "went home". He was waiting for me outside the doors.
Misty
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Permalink Reply by Patty Weltin on
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I'm so sorry for what you went through. My daughter is at a new school. Most of the kids ignore her, but she has a few friends. She is meeting them at the winter ball on Friday. I am sick to my stomach over what might happen. She won't let me chaperone. She's afraid I might kick some bully's ass. lol
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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Didn't suffer severe emotional problems huh! I am a 34 year old who still suffers from severe emotional problems as a result of just what your daughter is going through! Who decided this? Did she see a counclor?
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Permalink Reply by Patty Weltin on
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She did see a therapist, but, according to my lawyer, her suffering wasn't severe enough. It's outrageous. How many kids have to die before something gets done. I know adults, like you, who continue to suffer. One woman I met struggled with depression for years. After going into intensive therapy she discovered the root of her depression was the bullying she suffered as a child.
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Permalink Reply by Kristina Kuhlman Fenton on
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I am sorry to hear what your daught went though, and my heart goes out to her. As I child I was the same way except I was at the same school district from start to finish. Now as a parent I am having a hard time because my children are being bullied all the time. My daughter was picked on a lot because of her race. My son has been told this week that he should just die, and everyone would be happier if he would die. This really hurts because our school is 45 miles from Marshall, Minnesota where those two teens took their lives. Does anyone have any suggestion one where to turn? I have talked to the school on a number of time and nothing is being done. The bully is being protected by the school because he has a bad home life.
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Permalink Reply by Jessica Piusienski on
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That is rediculous
You should be able to sue i don't understand how it is her fault no one would talk to her and she was just called names constantly
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Permalink Reply by Greg Haefs on
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I agree, and I also would like to see some bullies become defendants in these lawsuits. Maybe the bullies will stop if they realize they will have to pay for their targets' college education or psychotherapy bills once they become adults.
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Permalink Reply by Terri Copeland on
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From another perspective- I am a teacher. I am a grandparent of a bullied child. Help me. Help me help them. When I intervene, I increase the size of the target on the student. When i ignore it guilt and frustration eat at me. My grandchild went from accepted to victim of physical attacks to verbal assault and ostracized. I tried to intervene through his football coach. He suffered greatly for my efforts. Now, he like others in my building are the invisible children. He spends everyday completely alone. He tries to stay under the bullying radar. He refuses to talk about it because he is embarassed and feels responsible. As a teacher in the building, I struggle with my professional responsibilities to teach the very children who have destroyed my once happy, accepting grandson.
You blame the school. I understand why. But, what am I to do when I can not even protect my own child?
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Permalink Reply by Jo Ann Marie Carrell on
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OMGosh that is horrible. I totally understand though. I have a 15year old that was severely bullied and did cause him severe emotional problems. He was bullied from 2nd grade until 5th grade and then I moved him out of public school to level 4 self contatined classroom that he had to go to because he had to go to a group home because his beahviors and aggression became very intense. He has come a long way since then and is currently transitioning back into public school and let me tell you the daily stress my stomach endures every single time I think of what could happen. I tried to hold the school accountable and they told me that he had the anger issue. I was furious and my son basically took it upon himself and punched one of the bullies and he hit the ground with a bloody nose. I do not accept physical violence as the answer but the teachers woke up a little and assigned him a para to follow him around on the playground to keep him safe and guess what, that para just happened to not be looking everytime someone was antagonizing him. schools need to be held accountable because it is getting out of hand and more kids are turning to bullycide or drugs and alcohol use etc. My son will never recover completely but I know that he thinks twice about being mean to someone after all of this. My 12 year old is starting to expierence a bit of bullying but I took myself right to the school and would not leave the office until I talked with someone and was ensured something would be done. If they don't listen go there and don't leave unti they do listen is the way I have got them to listen, even if it's just a little bit. Sorry didn't mean to ramble but it infuriates me.
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Permalink Reply by TRACY. Scott on
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The schools should be held accountable for the actions of students in there charge. My daughter is also quiet and she is a little different than most of the children she attends school with. But it was worst in her last school. My daughter is in 7th grade and is not cool by other students standards but I tell her she must be herself in-spite
of what others think. I hope that the schools react to the students who are being bullied before incidents happen more often. I'm from Cleveland Ohio and five students were shot today by a child who I believe just could not take anymore abuse from his peers. As a community each and everyone of us must stand up and say NO MORE!
More Resources
JodeeBlanco.com
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
- 1.800.SUICIDE
- suicidehotlines.com
The Blue Pages of your local phone book is one of the most comprehensive resources available with regional and national crisis hotlines, as well as self-help organizations and support groups in your local area.
KidsPeace National Center for Kids Overcoming Crises
- General Web site: www.kidspeace.org
- Teen Web Site: www.teencentral.net
- Crisis hotline: 1.800.334.4543
Social Shield
Social Shield is a service that helps parents keep their children safe on social networking sites.
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