Letter: Bullying should not be allowed in any schools

By: Chastity Church | Morganton News Herald
Published: July 02, 2009

Connelly Springs, NC --

I would like to know when it became OK to overlook bullying in schools. For almost a year now, my son, 6, had a problem with a boy two years older than him. My son has been kicked in the face, choked and called fat, tub of lard, etc. My son weighs 40 pounds. That is by no means fat. These actions and words have scarred my son to the point when he was coming home in tears from after school. I can hardly get him to eat anything anymore because he "doesn't want to grow up to be fat."
I made several attempts to fix this problem by going to the director and principal of the school. Both told me they would "take care of it."
Friday came and my son was picked up from after school. The bully had kicked him in the face and called him fat yet again.
I decided, as a concerned and fed-up parent, to take matters into my own hands. I made a trip to the school to speak to the parent of this child. She would not listen to any reason whatsoever.
I received a phone call from the principal today and was informed that I handled the situation the wrong way. I was too aggressive and angry and should not have left work to talk to this parent.
Excuse me, but after bringing it to the principal and the director's attention five times, I guess I felt the need to make a visit! My son comes home nearly every day in tears and I am not supposed to care? What kind of parent would sit back and not take matters into their own hands? When I drop my child off in the morning I am expecting the same care I would give him. He is to be watched over and protected from harm. Does being picked on not count? Would the director or principal put up with their children being the victim? Not quite.
I hope this child will get the discipline he needs from home so that, in the future, there is not another victim.
I am not sorry for what I said or how the situation was handled. I am very disappointed in the outcome. I spoke up to defend my child and was turned into the bad parent in the end.
Let me just say that my child is not the only victim at this school. In talking to several parents over the weekend, I have found out the boy has called their children fat as well and has been a bully to them in the past. Why is this OK?
I know kids will be kids, but in this day and time can we afford to have this kind of behavior in our schools? How many kids need to commit suicide from depression or bullies in order for something to be done?
My son will be a better person for not attending this particular school in August, but I would like to say to the parent of this bully child, do your job! It is not OK to teach your kids to be disrespectful and mean. Be a parent and handle the situation before it escalates and before he gets completely out of hand.
To the staff of this after-school summer program, I would like to say that you need to step up and report what is happening. Stop ignoring the obvious and stop being friends with the parents.

Letter: Bullying should not be allowed in any schools

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