Does anyone have trouble with bullys/bullying in their childs school?
By thumper2
@thumper2 (127)
United States
December 23, 2006 8:27am CST
In the past my daughter has had trouble with a group of girls who silently claim to control the school. They use rumors, shunning, and other control tactics to keep some girls from becoming "popular". My daughter has been told she isn't wearing the right color shoes, or the right kind of clothes, or her hair wasn't fixed the right way. These controlling girls will lie about other girls and suck up to the teachers so much that everyone believes the things they say. Plus it doesn't help matters that some of these "mean girls" have parents on the school board or are involved in the school system in some way. In our area, people are so clicky, and if you child isn't a sports star then they are basically nobodies at school. The teachers won't say anything to these mean girls because they think it's not their job to handle social issues. When my daughter has told on one of the bullys before, the teachers have said "Well if they haven't hurt you physically then you are not hurt." So now my daughter doesn't even tell on the mean girls, she just puts up with it.
This gets very hard sometimes to see my daughter and some of her other friends get pushed around by these girls, and they are powerless to do anything about it.
Does anyone else have this problem?
3 people like this
20 responses
@makem0ney (293)
•
23 Dec 06
i was bullied at school, when i was in my first year at high school i was bullied the whole year by the next year up from me, but after a while i got sick of it and started an fight with them and was never bullied again.
@thumper2 (127)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Thanks for the post.
We had my daughter talk to the school psychologist. This really bothered her because she felt like maybe she was the one having a mental problem. Also she said the psychologist came in the room and said "so you are jealous of someone" and she just didn't know what to say back to him. She didn't want to tell him he was wrong because she felt like she might get in trouble for being disrespectful.
She was also afraid the other kids would find out she went to a "shrink" and start a rumor about her being crazy or something. That probably would have happened to, knowing the group of people we are dealing with here.
@amafrias (455)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Oh, I would be at the school board every time the darn doors opened. At my daughters school, they must wear uniforms which cuts out the "who has the best clothes?" deal. Allthough she is only in kendergarten..lol I dread when she gets in Jr and High School. I don't want her to be a "mean girl" either. I would never allow that, but would not let her be walked all over either.
@thumper2 (127)
• United States
24 Dec 06
I wish we had a dress code for the school - that would stop some of the problems, everyone would be equal in dress at least. My uncles kids go to a catholic school where there's a dress code and his kids don't have these problems.
Thanks for the post.
@mcmomss (2601)
• United States
23 Dec 06
Thank goodness neither one of my boys has ever had problems with bullies. They both seem happy with a few good friends. They don't seem to worry about being one of the popular kids and always being with the 'in' crowd. I think girls are more into that than boys.
@jen20619 (1300)
• Ireland
23 Dec 06
My daughter was been bullied from as early as 5 years old she would be very upset from this and it was hard for me to even let her play in the front garden as they would target her and call her names .I done my best to stop it I told the parents.It took until she was 7 for the problem to fully go away.This year she hasnt been bullied at all.Im so glad its stopped.
@thumper2 (127)
• United States
24 Dec 06
I've always told my girls to ignore the bullys because it's not important what clothes you wear, what matters is the person on the inside. Being an honest, dependable, respectful, humble person is much better then being a well-dressed, pretty fool.
Best Wishes to you and your sister and don't let those others bother you.
Thanks,
@ride54toi (406)
• Philippines
24 Dec 06
i experienced that too. it was terrible. really sucks. i was not able to concentrate on my studies. i thought i was a nobody trying my best to be liked by everyone. man it sucks. i wanna forget the experience.. i think the best move is to the parents of the bullies.i believe communication is all it takes... goodluck.
@DRoddy77 (1776)
• United States
23 Dec 06
This sort of bullying has been going on for years and years. There will always be that group of kids that has to taunt and hurt other kids just to make themselves feel superior. I went through all of it when i was in school and it's not fun. I dont want my kids to have to go through the same thing and I plan on teaching them to stand up for themselves no matter what!.... Parents need to start teaching their children to treat everyone with respect and that this kind of behavior wont be tolerated. People dont understand what kind of effect this emotional abuse can have on a child. I know first hand that it can have a long lasting effect. Im 29 years old and suffer a lot of depression and self esteem problems that I do think stems from what I was put through in school!
@thumper2 (127)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Yes, this has went on for years. I can remember being bullied a few times and turning around and bullying others in return. I was always taught to fight back at a young age because I was always the youngest, littlest in the family, so I had to "come out swinging" alot of times. My youngest girl is alot like me, so I think she will probably deal with these things okay, but my oldest is more timid and shy like my husband and things get to her sometimes. Parent's do need to teach their children to respect others feelings! It seems sometimes though that the parents act worse then the kids, it's no wonder the kids are acting that way. I am really embarrassed sometimes to watch these parents like at a ballgame or some other school function, they totally miss the point of the benefits of extracurricular activities. They think it's all about promoting your kid to be the star at all costs, stepping on others along the way. It's not fair. I'm really sorry for the things that you went through in school, maybe talking about it will help. Good luck and feel free to post me anytime! Thanks!
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
23 Dec 06
My Daughter used to have that Problem when she was at School and she went very quiet and that
But in the End her Friends and her just started to ignore them
I know it hurts your Daughter but she needs to ignore them and her and her Friends just have to stick together
I think it is disgusting that the School is not doing anything about it
It might be worth your While calling the School Authorities and talk to them about it
I really hope it works out and that your Daughter can cope
@thumper2 (127)
• United States
24 Dec 06
I must say, I think this year is better somewhat because she has 2-3 main friends that have had similar problems, so they are starting to hang-out at ballgames and have some fun together. Hope things continue to get better, before the "mean girls" would try to bust up any friendships that my daughter tried to start with others, but so far this year they seem to be more preoccupied with trying to be sports stars and run with the older junior high girls.
Thanks,
@lucy02 (5015)
• United States
23 Dec 06
I think that you and her should get together with the other girls that are being bullied and their parents and talk to the principal about the situation first. If that doesn't work go to the school board. If you have them with you, you won't feel so powerless against their "friends" on the school board. Let them know you mean business and this crap had better stop.
@bryelee (451)
• United States
23 Dec 06
My oldest is in kindergarden and so far there is a little girl who tells my child each day she is in their club, they next day she is outa nd the next she is back in. My child doesn't egt upset, its more irriating for me to hear about. I hope that as she gets older we don't have those problems.
@thumper2 (127)
• United States
24 Dec 06
Yes, my youngest one is in K now and some of the girls are doing this to her, she just thinks they are being babies and goes off to play with the boys. I guess my youngest has heard so much of my oldest daughters problems, that she shrugs it off and finds someone else to play with. Sometimes it upsets the parents worse then the kids, when that's the case it's always better for the parent to stay out of it and let the kid deal with it.
Hope yours don't have these problems either.
Thanks.
@muralikumar2005 (622)
• India
23 Dec 06
Recently there's been much increased awareness of bullying in schools and whilst it may appear that bullying is on the increase, I suspect there's been little change in the amount of bullying that goes on in school. What has changed is that society is at last beginning to recognise just how vile bullying is and that the myths and misperceptions are just that - myths and misperceptions. Those who perpetuate these myths are choosing to be part of the problem, not the solution.
It seems that children bully for a variety of reasons and when dealing with child bullying it's essential to identify who is the bully at the centre of the violence - there's usually one person who's the gang leader - and the reasons for bullying which include
frustration - a child is impaired in some way and is frustrated and resentful because the source of their difficulty has not been identified - problems can include deafness, dyslexia, autism, allergy, being left-handed, undiagnosed PTSD or some unidentified learning difficulty - nevertheless the child is expected to perform at the level required by the school and no attempt is made to identify the source of the frustration
the child is being bullied, the responsible adults have repeatedly failed in their duty of care, so the child slowly and reluctantly starts to exhibit aggressive behaviours because that's the only way to survive in this bullying-entrenched climate
poor or no role model - the child has no role model at home, or a poor role model for one or both parents and has never had the opportunity to learn behaviour skills
abuse at home - the child is being abused and is expressing their anger through bullying
neglect at home - similar to abuse as the child's emotional and behavioural development is being retarded
undue influence - the child has fallen in with the wrong crowd
conduct disorder - the child has a conduct disorder, the precursor to antisocial, psychopathic or other personality disorder
So who's responsible?
I think it's important not to immediately blame individuals. And especially not teachers. There are a few bullying teachers (it's surprising how often these get promoted to positions of management), but most teachers are hard-working individuals who dedicate their lives to educating the next generation. The problem, as so often, lies further up the management chain.
We all have a collective responsibility, and bullying is the result of a number of factors. I believe the way forward is to identify all the factors and especially the causes, then begin to modify our education system so that in 25 or 50 years time, bullying is no longer a problem. There are no quick fixes, by the way, although change, if properly implemented - and resourced and funded (smirk) - will start to bring dividends inside a year or two.
@thumper2 (127)
• United States
23 Dec 06
You are right in much of what you wrote, bullying is a complex problem with many variables. I have noticed that there is one girl who is the "ring leader" she comes from a family that is poor, but has strong association with a few parents that are board members, this little girl also has a mother that is very large (obese) in size and tries to almost reinact her failed school years thru her daughter. It's almost like the mother is really part of the bullying, but indirectly. Sometimes I feel sorry for this little girl, she must be under alot of pressure at home and school to be the perfect, popular, athletic girl her mother never was.
@learningtofly (3)
• United States
23 Dec 06
My little girl complains a lot of being teased and picked on by her peers. Shes overweight, but a beautiful child with a big heart and Iknow it hurts her feelings badly. I write my daughters teacher a letter, and it has not gotten any better thus far. I plan on going to the school board to see if it may help resolve the problem!
@brightbluesea (1143)
• United States
24 Dec 06
I wish that bullies would be rounded up and put in their own little school sometimes. Bullies are everywhere these days and I think that girls can be even worse in the way that they bully than boys. Teachers should be handling social issues and preventing this type of thing in the classroom-it interferes with everyone's right to learn in a comfortable environment. I would talk to the school principal or even higher up if the problem continues
@barryallen (941)
• United States
23 Dec 06
i was a bully when i was kid and i'm not proud of it... i know what your daughter gets through during this period and it's really hard to deal with this kind of children.. scolding those bullies won't do enough.. i think you should report this to the school principal to take necessary actions..
@jangali123 (245)
•
24 Dec 06
yes my kid is in class reception,he started saying that i will not go to the school b'coz big boys make me scared,on the lunch time they used to go in big class room there i do'nt know what happen/i told to his teacher also,and i make him understand that do'nt get scared to anyone
@rahul_lunkad (148)
• India
24 Dec 06
i dunt know as i was amogst d 1 who used 2 bully other... but ya v made sure v wouldnt hurt sum1s feelings n v did it jus 4 fun...