What to do about 7th grade bully

Question
My heart breaks for your sister. My daughter is 27 and I just found out within the last month how much she was harassed when she was in school. I had no clue because she never told me anything. She said to me, "Mom, you have no idea how much I was harassed." I wanted to wrap my arms around her so bad but couldn't because she lives in Florida. All I could say was, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that by yourself." Had I known I would've gone to the school and reported it. You and your mother (who needs to know) need to do the same. There are laws. Please keep us informed.

Answer

Hi l understand how you feel my little one had been bullied from age 5 from kids outta my street and school yes children that YOUNG!!! You MUST or your mother confront this head on l did and it was a waste of time but it might not be for you...........l removed my child from the school reluctantly and put her in a new school and weve never looked back, get in touch with education board/govenors etc to fight for you if you have no luck do not let this continue it is very damaging even for a child my daughters age it is heart breaking l know you feel like bashing the lot of them lol but we know we cant have you been to this girls parents? in my case this was a waste of time as the parents were as bad as their kids dont let it continue you must persist good start is contacting school education dept who have a welfare officer every child is entitled to be taught in a safe environment your sister does not have to endure this l started by telling teachers what was going on and it never got better so l decided to go to monkey not the organ grinder lol act now dont leave it any longer dont leave it up to your sister to report it this is serious and she needs outside help like other children who are bullied they really believe if they do tell things will get worse please help her
PS MODS..WE DO NEED A BULLYING BOARD
[This message has been edited by niecsey (edited 02-05-2003).]

Answer

hereubb/bang.gif
l know you feel like bashing the lot of them lol but we know we cant have you been to this girls parents? in my case this was a waste of time as the parents were as bad as their kids dont let it continue you must persist good start is contacting school education dept who have a welfare officer every child is entitled to be taught in a safe environment your sister does not have to endure this l started by telling teachers what was going on and it never got better so l decided to go to monkey not the organ grinder lol act now dont leave it any longer dont leave it up to your sister to report it this is serious and she needs outside help like other children who are bullied they really believe if they do tell things will get worse please help her l know you feel like bashing the lot of them lol but we know we cant have you been to this girls parents? in my case this was a waste of time as the parents were as bad as their kids dont let it continue you must persist good start is contacting school education dept who have a welfare officer every child is entitled to be taught in a safe environment your sister does not have to endure this l started by telling teachers what was going on and it never got better so l decided to go to monkey not the organ grinder lol act now dont leave it any longer dont leave it up to your sister to report it this is serious and she needs outside help like other children who are bullied they really believe if they do tell things will get worse please help her
PS MODS..WE DO NEED A BULLYING BOARD
[This message has been edited by niecsey (edited 02-05-2003).]

Answer

hereubb/heart.gif

PS MODS..WE DO NEED A BULLYING BOARD
PS MODS..WE DO NEED A BULLYING BOARD
[This message has been edited by niecsey (edited 02-05-2003).]

Answer

hereubb/bang.gif
[This message has been edited by niecsey (edited 02-05-2003).]

Answer

Sorry I wasn't clear. My mom knows. I'm just worried she's not doing anything, which is why I needed advice. My mom was the first one my sister told, but she told my mom she didn't want her contacting the school. My other sister 17 told my grandmother, who told me.
I don't know what happened last night, I didn't have a chance to talk to them, but Amy (my sister) had said she was going to confront the girl, tell her to stop, and if the girl pulled her hair or pushed her again she was going to hit her (and run real fast I'm sure). But I don't think she will. Obviously that's not a good thing to do, but the girl has been in so much trouble at school that if she gets in one more fight, she's expelled. So if they fight, it gets taken the principle, both parents go in, and THEN the whole thing comes out about what the girl's been doing to Amy. (and I'm just guessing, but I doubt the parents are going to care their daughter is a bully, she's 15, in the 7th grade, and has been suspended probably more than she's in school, so I doubt there's much discipline). When I picked her up from school yesterday, she told me it normally happens before lunch in her science class. When class is over, the teacher leaves, and the girls block her in. So I told her to tell her science teacher, who could be on the lookout for it, and possible leave the class for 10 seconds, and come back and catch the girl in the act. That way Amy won't be the "tattletail", but the girl will still be in trouble. But I don't know if she's going to. But if after today, nothing has changed, I'm going to make my mom go to the school regardless of what Amy says. It's just not going to stop otherwise.

Answer

Boy, I really feel for your sister. As a student teacher and a future educator, I can tell you that the only thing she can do is to tell either the teacher or the principal. They have a legal responsibility to protect her. Even if she's not comfortable telling the science teacher, is there another teacher who she likes and trusts? Another thing for her to do might be to ask some of her own friends or kids that she likes to stick around after class, so that she is not alone. Bullies usually only attack when the child is alone. If she's got a group of friends around her, maybe these other kids will feel intimidated and not be so likely to pick on her. I was bullied in elementary school. I didn't have that many friends, and the girl who was bullying me was much bigger than me. But I was very very close with the principal. I used to eat lunch with him, be his monitor, etc.... I thought it would just go away on its own, but it didn't. And believe me, once I mentioned it to him, it never happened again! And you know, the teachers have also got a responsibility to see that each and every student is comfortable and the school is a safe learning environment. I imagine that your sister is not learning very much or able to concentrate in science class. What I personally would do in a situation like this if I were her, would be to go up to the science teacher before class or at a different time of the day, when these girls aren't around and tell him or her what is going on, and ask if he or she would stay in the room until I leave. Also, I don't know about where you live, but where I live we have school security guards. All she would have to do is go up to one of them and point out the girl(s) that spit in her face.
If this girl is 15, what is she doing in the same grade and class with 12 year olds? There is something very wrong with that. I mean, I can understand being left back once. But it seems that she has been left back much more than that, and usually when that happens students would be placed in a class for kids with behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Your sister should not be in the same class with these girls. It never should have happened.
I understand how difficult it must be for you to sit back and not do anything. The best thing for her to do though may be to assert her own power in front of these bullies/intimidators/thugs, whatever you want to call them. If she can show them that she is stronger than them and what they are doing does not bother her (even though she may be crying on the inside), the thrill for them might wear off. Bullies only pick on people who they think are vulnerable, and they usually do it to increase their own self-esteem. That's why I say that if your sister has a group of friends, or even just one friend who is in this class with her and can stick around so she doesn't have to walk out alone, she might be better off. But I wouldn't let it go on much longer. This can be very damaging to her self-esteem and she does not have to put up with it. Every child has the right to feel safe in school. If she doesn't feel that getting a group of friends together would be a good idea, or if she tries it and it doesn't work, then you have no choice but to talk to the principal. Try to let your mother handle it, but if she's not then somebody has to stick up for your sister. Also, if you are going to go see the princial (or if your mom is), don't walk in with your sister. Let her go to school on her own, and you just go there on your own also, preferably sometime before her science period so that she doesn't have to endure it again! The reason I say that is because you don't want these girls to see her walking in with you because that will make her seem much more vulnerable to them, like she can't defend herself. But once you get into the principals office, have him send for her. And the girls who are doing the bullying should also be sent for, so that she can confront them with the principal there and he can let them know that he's not going to stand for it. Obviously these girls have done this before and he probably knows them very well, especially if one is on the verge of being expelled! Maybe the bullying will be what puts her over the top, and your sister can get her out of the school. The girl's friends may still bully your sister, but at least that's one less bully she'd have to deal with. It may also be a good idea for your sister to try and talk with each of these girls individually, when the others aren't around. She can tell them how she feels. There is probably one who is the ring leader, and the others follow her. But if she can get them alone, chances are they are not going to be as confident or as intimidating as they are with the whole group.
Good luck and I really hope things work out. Please also let your sister know that she is not alone, and any time she wants to come on this board and talk to us (or me) we will welcome her with open arms.
Elyse

[This message has been edited by niecsey (edited 02-05-2003).]

Answer

Sorry I wasn't clear. My mom knows. I'm just worried she's not doing anything, which is why I needed advice. My mom was the first one my sister told, but she told my mom she didn't want her contacting the school. My other sister 17 told my grandmother, who told me.
I don't know what happened last night, I didn't have a chance to talk to them, but Amy (my sister) had said she was going to confront the girl, tell her to stop, and if the girl pulled her hair or pushed her again she was going to hit her (and run real fast I'm sure). But I don't think she will. Obviously that's not a good thing to do, but the girl has been in so much trouble at school that if she gets in one more fight, she's expelled. So if they fight, it gets taken the principle, both parents go in, and THEN the whole thing comes out about what the girl's been doing to Amy. (and I'm just guessing, but I doubt the parents are going to care their daughter is a bully, she's 15, in the 7th grade, and has been suspended probably more than she's in school, so I doubt there's much discipline). When I picked her up from school yesterday, she told me it normally happens before lunch in her science class. When class is over, the teacher leaves, and the girls block her in. So I told her to tell her science teacher, who could be on the lookout for it, and possible leave the class for 10 seconds, and come back and catch the girl in the act. That way Amy won't be the "tattletail", but the girl will still be in trouble. But I don't know if she's going to. But if after today, nothing has changed, I'm going to make my mom go to the school regardless of what Amy says. It's just not going to stop otherwise.

Answer

Boy, I really feel for your sister. As a student teacher and a future educator, I can tell you that the only thing she can do is to tell either the teacher or the principal. They have a legal responsibility to protect her. Even if she's not comfortable telling the science teacher, is there another teacher who she likes and trusts? Another thing for her to do might be to ask some of her own friends or kids that she likes to stick around after class, so that she is not alone. Bullies usually only attack when the child is alone. If she's got a group of friends around her, maybe these other kids will feel intimidated and not be so likely to pick on her. I was bullied in elementary school. I didn't have that many friends, and the girl who was bullying me was much bigger than me. But I was very very close with the principal. I used to eat lunch with him, be his monitor, etc.... I thought it would just go away on its own, but it didn't. And believe me, once I mentioned it to him, it never happened again! And you know, the teachers have also got a responsibility to see that each and every student is comfortable and the school is a safe learning environment. I imagine that your sister is not learning very much or able to concentrate in science class. What I personally would do in a situation like this if I were her, would be to go up to the science teacher before class or at a different time of the day, when these girls aren't around and tell him or her what is going on, and ask if he or she would stay in the room until I leave. Also, I don't know about where you live, but where I live we have school security guards. All she would have to do is go up to one of them and point out the girl(s) that spit in her face.
If this girl is 15, what is she doing in the same grade and class with 12 year olds? There is something very wrong with that. I mean, I can understand being left back once. But it seems that she has been left back much more than that, and usually when that happens students would be placed in a class for kids with behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Your sister should not be in the same class with these girls. It never should have happened.
I understand how difficult it must be for you to sit back and not do anything. The best thing for her to do though may be to assert her own power in front of these bullies/intimidators/thugs, whatever you want to call them. If she can show them that she is stronger than them and what they are doing does not bother her (even though she may be crying on the inside), the thrill for them might wear off. Bullies only pick on people who they think are vulnerable, and they usually do it to increase their own self-esteem. That's why I say that if your sister has a group of friends, or even just one friend who is in this class with her and can stick around so she doesn't have to walk out alone, she might be better off. But I wouldn't let it go on much longer. This can be very damaging to her self-esteem and she does not have to put up with it. Every child has the right to feel safe in school. If she doesn't feel that getting a group of friends together would be a good idea, or if she tries it and it doesn't work, then you have no choice but to talk to the principal. Try to let your mother handle it, but if she's not then somebody has to stick up for your sister. Also, if you are going to go see the princial (or if your mom is), don't walk in with your sister. Let her go to school on her own, and you just go there on your own also, preferably sometime before her science period so that she doesn't have to endure it again! The reason I say that is because you don't want these girls to see her walking in with you because that will make her seem much more vulnerable to them, like she can't defend herself. But once you get into the principals office, have him send for her. And the girls who are doing the bullying should also be sent for, so that she can confront them with the principal there and he can let them know that he's not going to stand for it. Obviously these girls have done this before and he probably knows them very well, especially if one is on the verge of being expelled! Maybe the bullying will be what puts her over the top, and your sister can get her out of the school. The girl's friends may still bully your sister, but at least that's one less bully she'd have to deal with. It may also be a good idea for your sister to try and talk with each of these girls individually, when the others aren't around. She can tell them how she feels. There is probably one who is the ring leader, and the others follow her. But if she can get them alone, chances are they are not going to be as confident or as intimidating as they are with the whole group.
Good luck and I really hope things work out. Please also let your sister know that she is not alone, and any time she wants to come on this board and talk to us (or me) we will welcome her with open arms.
Elyse


Answer

hereubb/heart.gif


Answer

also check on the teen issues board or the children's health board.
? 2006 - 2007 www.answerfame.com | Contact us | Privacy Policy|