Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100306/NEWS06/3060306/1001/NEWS/Bullied-student-awarded-800000&template=fullarticle" target="_blank">http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs...larticle</a> ***In what experts say could be a landmark decision, a Michigan school district has been ordered to pay $800,000 this week to a student who claimed the school did not do enough to protect him from years of bullying*** Wow. I can't tell you the number of times back in elementary school when some kids were waiting for me after school right around the corner, and after practically BEGGING teachers (and sometimes the Principal!) for help, I was told "just get out there and tell them to leave you alone!". And I'd get shoved out the door, and 5 minutes later get my face shoved in the concrete (or worse). Geez, if only I'd known how wrong that was. Anyway, happy for this kid at least. Bullying sucks!
Originally Posted By mele Good! It sucks but at least now maybe schools will have more motivation to protect kids from this. It sucks that it took lawsuits to bring this about.
Originally Posted By pecos bill I totally agree that some kids need the protection. I just hope it wont get taken to extremes, where kids are being arrested for what is otherwise just a part of the social experience of growing up. Of course, I havent been in school in a long time. I suppose the environment is much different,(scarier) than the one I remember.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I think that a lot of people think that bullying or being bullied is "just a phase" all kids must go through. That there is something to be learned or gained from the experience. Having been one of those kids who were bullied for a couple of years (jr. high) I can tell you that I learned nothing of value from that experience. I am sure it is difficult to grasp or fully appreciate if you've never been on the receiving end of relentless, daily stress of trying to just go about your business and avoid bullies. But it often goes beyond minor schoolyard scuffles. In my case, I had moved to a different area, so I entered jr. high without all the many friends I had made in elementary school. A small group of kids somehow zeroed in on me. I had no idea why now or then -- I didn't do anything outlandish or attempt to get attention in any way. But whatever it was, it was an ongoing thing where they would try to corner me on a regular basis, threaten, humiliate, really anything they could do. I was practically giddy with excitement on Friday nights, but by Saturday afternoons the knot in my stomach, the dread of returning to school Monday would return. Hopefully in the 35 years since I was in jr. high, we've learned that this isn't something to ignore or play down. There is nothing to be gained from being abused mentally and physically. Hopefully this award will be a reminder to those who think otherwise. Good for the kid and his family!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan In fact, 35 years later it is still frustrating and upsetting to think about those 2 years. They caused me to withdraw and not engage in all of the activities I might have wanted to, even in high school, not wanting to stand out if I could help it.
Originally Posted By pecos bill I was not implying that bullying is a harmless phase, just that things like suing a school district could lead to extreme countermeasures that may infringe on basic human rights. I was bullied too, and if nothing else, I gained a deeper understanding of human nature. I learned a lot of people are born creeps. It also gave me a great appreciation for those who could have joined in, but instead opted for kindness and dignity.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Sorry, pecos, my comments weren't directed at you -- I should have made that clearer.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >> I suppose the environment is much different,(scarier) than the one I remember.<< YMMV. My son has only experienced bullying once (and he kicked the idiot's butt!), but I think we have a pretty decent school district out here that keeps that junk under control.
Originally Posted By mele Just curious, did your son get into trouble for fighting back/defending himself? My son was jumped by 8 kids (according to the teacher who saw it) and fought them off and got suspended for fighting. Or, as I think of it, he was suspended for not running away fast enough. That would have shown the bullies, eh? Not that I'm bitter. Haha. Anyway, most schools have a no tolerance policy and all kids involved are punished.
Originally Posted By LPFan22 What concerns me the most is that some that are bullied become suicidal. My heart goes out to those that lean towards that direction. Schools do need to become more involved.
Originally Posted By mele Exactly. MOST kids choose to deal with bullying on their own. They either take it or fight back. Kids who ask for help really need to be helped as it isn't the norm to ask for it. We have a bullying teacher in our school. She made fun of my son for asking for help with bullies. I wish I had known about her behavior while it was going on. This year she has been bylling my friend's daughter but she'll be in a world of hurt if she keeps it up. My friend is no shrinking violet. When I found out what this big, fat bully was doing to my son (a year after he had left the school), I contacted the principal. The principal acted shocked (believe me, everyone knows this teacher is a *w*itch) and told me how sad it was because people who bully are so much more sensitive than everyone else. Yeah. That's what she said. I should have gone after them at that point but since my son had a tendency to hold onto things for months, I felt it was too late. Anyway, big fat bully teacher is still bullying kids and making them cry. It must feel pretty awesome to singlehandedly take away any confidence a 12 year old has and make them dread school everyday.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance ANY school who doesn't do whatever it takes to protect the children from bullying kids and ESPECIALLY from bullying teachers like mentioned above should have to face very tough consequences. I can't even stand to think there are teachers like that still teaching the kids. Imagine being that child going to school everyday knowing your own teacher, who is suppose to be education you is a bullying bit&# that will not relent till she makes a child cry. I don't even want to think about what I would do/say to that teacher if they acted that way towards my children. I start shaking with anger just thinking about it! That teacher should not only be fired on the spot, but should face criminal charges, that is abuse!
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Just curious, did your son get into trouble for fighting back/defending himself?<< Nope, he didn't get caught.
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By fkurucz The kid trying to bully my son was his age, and hit him with canoe paddle. Big mistake. Other kids witnessed the event and when the teacher showed up and asked what happened they simply said "he fell down".
Originally Posted By fkurucz The idiot never saw the round house kick coming. He figured that my son would cower because he had a "weapon", which he didn't even know how to use well. Those three years of Taekwondo came in handy.
Originally Posted By Labuda Wow, why was my post admin'd? All I did was say what I learned from my bullying and gave the last name of the kid who attacked me when I was in 5th grade and he was in 8th or 9th...
Originally Posted By Labuda ah, ok, then I'll just say his first name was Dale and his last name rhymes with storheck and that the only thing I learned from being bullied by that guy was not to trust brown haired guys with his name.
