Bullied? Sue the School

“You don’t want to remember what happened,” says 12-year-old Whitney.

What is she trying to forget? Over the past two years, Whitney was bullied at school – almost every day, says her mom.

“They would be out on the playground and she would just try to interact with them, and they would poke sticks at her,” says Whitney’s mom, Kathleen Theriot. “And you know she would come home and say, ‘I don’t want to be alive tomorrow. I’m not going to school anymore.’ She loved school. She’d be like, ‘I’m not going.’ She’d wake up crying and I’d just let her stay home.”

And where were the teachers?

“I won’t say they didn’t do anything,” says Kathleen, “they just did as minimal as they could.”

But these days, not doing enough can result in a lawsuit. According to the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, more parents of bullied students are taking schools to court.

“If I notice something that is going wrong, it is my responsibility as the classroom teacher … as the principal, as any person who is affiliated with that school, to do what I can to prevent that kind of behavior,” says Merchuria Chase Williams, National Education Association.

Experts say that before blaming the teacher, parents should remember that many bullies cleverly hide their actions from adults. So before thinking lawsuit, parents should work with the school and teachers to solve the problem.

By Larry Eldridge, Jr.
CWK Network, Inc.

“Bullying isn’t that serious of a problem.”

“My child isn’t being bullied. He hasn’t said anything.”

“It’s just a stage kids go through.”

Have you ever heard – or said – statements like these regarding bullying? While this may be the mindset of many parents, they may be downplaying a more serious problem. A recent study from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development revealed the following statistics about bullying, specifically focused on students between grades six and 10:

• Sixteen percent of U.S. schoolchildren say they have been bullied by other students during the current school year.
• Thirteen percent admitted to engaging in moderate to frequent bullying of others.
• Twenty-nine percent had been involved in some aspect of bullying, either as a bully or a target.
• Students who were bullied reported having greater difficulty making friends and poorer relationships with their classmates.
• Bullies were more likely to be involved in other problem behaviors, including drinking and smoking.
• Boys were both more likely to bully others and more likely to be victims of bullying than girls.
• Boys were more likely to suffer physical abuse (hitting, slapping, pushing) than girls.
• Bullying occurs most frequently in grades six through eight.

By Larry Eldridge, Jr.
CWK Network, Inc.

While many people believe that bullying is a normal part of growing up, it can often lead to problems down the road. Research indicates that 25 percent of the children who bully others will have criminal records by the time they are 30. In addition, children who are constantly bullied sometimes resort to drastic and often dangerous actions, such as skipping school or carrying weapons. Andrea Simanson, a writer for ChristianMommies.com, has developed the following list of recommendations for parents who think their child is being bullied, or is a bully:

• Listen. Encourage your children to talk about school, social events, kids in their class, even their walk (or ride) to and from school. This can help you can identify any problems your kids may be having.
• Take your children’s complaints about bullying seriously. Probing a seemingly minor incident may uncover something more serious. Children are often afraid or ashamed to tell anyone that they have been bullied.
• Watch for symptoms of victimization, such as withdrawal, a drop in grades, torn clothes or requests for extra money.
• Tell your child’s school immediately if you think that your child is being bullied.
• Work with other parents to ensure that the children in your neighborhood are supervised on their way to and from school.
• Don’t bully your children yourself — physically or verbally. Use non-physical, consistent discipline measures. Don’t ridicule, yell at or ignore your children when they misbehave.
• Teach children the social skills they need to make friends. A confident, resourceful child who has friends is less likely to be bullied or to bully others.
• Praise kindness toward others. Show children that kindness is valued.
• Teach children ways to resolve arguments without violent words or actions. Talk about self-protection skills – how to walk confidently, to stay alert to their environment and to stand up for themselves verbally.
• Recognize that bullies may be acting out feelings of insecurity, anger or loneliness. If your child is a bully, try to get to the root of the problem. Ask teachers, school counselors or child psychologists to teach you specific strategies you can use at home.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Stop Bullying Now! (HRSA)
Christian Mommies