Lighting the Way: parents' and bystanders' stories

Parents' Stories

Harassment, from a Parent's View by a Mom
-- "[S]he would come home in tears....I told her to ignore it.... Finally in eighth grade, I had heard enough...."
N.B. The daughter of the Mom above has contributed her own account of her experiences, Sarah's Story, to Raven Days' Words Out of Shadow.

Lisa Blackwell's Story by Lisa Blackwell
-- "I have gone through all the proper channels to correct the problem, but... my son has only suffered more torment each time I have attempted to intervene...."

Sharon Wilson's Story by Sharon Wilson
-- "Frank was attacked from behind one day, pushed down then before he could get up his attacker kicked him in the face. His nose was broken...."

I can't contribute to this section myself, as I have no children. But if you've had similar experiences, and you'd like to let other parents know they aren't alone, please consider posting your story on the Web. Contact dixonm@pobox.com to send me your story (or a link to your story).

Witnesses' Stories

Anna's Story by Anna -- "What hurts most is watching them go at others. It's not so much that they outright say it. It's not as bad as these others schools. But sitting by yourself is painful...."

If you're a bystander who cares about the kids who are being bullied in your school, and you'd like to let others know what's going on there, please consider posting your story on the Web. Contact dixonm@pobox.com to send me your story (or a link to your story).

For stories from people who are or were outsiders in school themselves, see Raven Days' Words Out of Shadow.

Beacons

JaredStory.com -- A site where parents can post memorials for children who've committed suicide after being bullied.

A Student's Take on Bullying -- Letter to the editor of the Glen Cove Record-Pilot, written by seventh-grader Sofia Christopoulos in response to an incident in which a student was knocked unconscious by other students on a school bus.

He Always Did the Best He Could, by Bob Mann for the Cameron Herald -- "James Barrett absorbed endless teasing and harassment by cruel classmates who poked fun at his plump frame and unkempt demeanor...." A bystander's memories.

Peers are Key in Stopping School Bullies -- "She was crying, and it seemed like nearly everyone within earshot was laughing. I remember my own laughter...." A bystander's memories. Article by Aisha Sultan for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

When They Were Bad -- "Finally, e-mails in hand, I asked again, 'Are the girls mad at you?' She stared at me with old, sad eyes and said, 'Yes.'...." -- Article by Carolyn Magner for Salon.

Bullied Girl's Mother Backs Change -- Article about the mother of a 15-year-old who attempted suicide after being bullied. Web-published by the BBC.

"Bullied" Junior High School Student Gets Approval to Switch Schools -- A family moved, and the daughter was bullied at her new school. As a temporary measure, her mother is allowing her to stay with friends in her old school district, and the family is planning to move back into the old district as soon as they can. Article web-published by the Truro Daily News.

Parents "Ignored" by Schools -- Article web-published by the BBC..

When the Bullies Won -- Stephen Connors' 13-year-old daughter Vicky was sexually assaulted by a friend's father during a sleepover. When she testified to police, she mentioned her concern that the friend's older sister led a large group of students at school. She was promised that nothing bad would happen. Vicky was regularly beaten up for the rest of the school year. When it began again the next year, after a particularly bad beating, her parents enrolled her in private school. Article web-published by the Guardian.

When Lunch Hour Turns Into "Lord of the Flies" -- "Which is when my son spoke up. 'I was bullied in middle school,' he said. As a sensitive, well-informed parent, always involved in the lives of my children, I reacted as expected. 'You were?' I said...." Article by C.W. Nevius for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kate Miller-Heidke's [sic] Sings "Caught in the Crowd" about Bullying -- Article web-published by the Herald-Sun.

Whatever Schools Say, Bullying Still Flourishes, by Juliette Hughes for the Age. -- "Time after time, as student and teacher, I had seen kids punished when they tried to defend themselves after repeated abuse that was committed with impunity...."

Mum's Fury at Bash Video -- "They told me he did not fit in with the school's culture." Article by Jennifer Eliot for the Cairns Post.

School Bullies Especially Cruel to Exceptional Kids -- "Instead, they offered him bizarre advice...'if you think you're going to be assaulted, go where the school cameras are.'" Article by Kim Zarzour for YorkRegion.

New Principal Did Not Stop Bullying, by Dianne Lowe -- "My granddaughter is a quiet young lady who did her best to tolerate the despicable actions of the students, which ranged from getting hit and pushed, to getting spit at and constant verbal attacks...." Web-published by the Standard-Times.

Bullying Prompts Parent to Home-School -- "Usually it's fights that are never broken up. Teachers just stand there and watch." Article by Jessica Floyd for WRDW.

Bullying Prompts Concerned Mom to Pull Her Son Out of Middle School -- "The next thing he knew he was jumped on and being kicked and he curled up in a ball." Article by Molly Blancett for KVAL.

Bremen Family Says Kids are Victims of Racism in School -- "We had one boy put a fork up to my daughter's neck while another boy held her...." Article by Sarah Platt for WNDU.

Truant's Father to Appear in Court -- A father is being prosecuted for failing to send his bullied 16-year-old son to school. His son had been repeatedly targetted by a gang of bullies at the school. Article web-published by the BBC.

Mother Fined For Boy's Truancy -- A mother has been fined 200 pounds for failing to send her bullied 15-year-old son to school. Article web-published by the BBC.

Bullying Incident, School's Reaction Distress Parent -- A boy was pushed into a filing cabinet and punched in the stomach. Article by Misty Maynard for the Ledger Independent.

Teachers Blamed for Bullying Culture at Xavier College -- "The final straw came after George broke his wrist after he was allegedly pushed over by another student...." Article by Aaron Langmaid for the Herald Sun.

Parents Concerned About Teen Bullying -- "My daughter can't go to school without being jumped on and I've taken the proper channels and nothing has been done yet...." Article by Lindsey Brown for WTOK.

Student a "Hermit" After Bullying -- "She was traumatised to the extent she was a hermit last year." Article by Saffron Howden for the Northern Star.

Bullying in Schools -- "They call her Venus and Mars and fat girl and they just keep on. And I'm just tired of it." Article by Philip Townsend for WHSV.

Mother's Advert to Shame Bullies -- A mother has taken out an anti-bullying ad in a local paper in memory of her son, who committed suicide in 1989 after being bullied. Article web-published by the BBC.

Suicidal Boy's Mother Calls for End to School Bullying -- Her 13-year-old son has twice tried to kill himself after being bullied at school. Article by Stephen Drill for the Sunday Herald Sun.

Bullies Drove Daughter to the Brink of Suicide -- ""In the end children were throwing things at her, abusing her and saying threatening things to her, threatening to hit her." Article by Debbie Leigh for the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Bullying Battle -- After her son was beaten up at school, Kim Thomas posted two large signs in her yard reproaching school administrators for failing to do their duty. Article by Sean Dreher for WTAJ. See also Local Parent Blasts School Bullying Policy, web-published by WJAC, and Mother Fights Bullying with Sign in Her Yard, web-published by the Tribune-Democrat.

The Case for Home School: Bullying -- Bev Powell began homeschooling her daughter when her daughter was bullied and school authorities did nothing. Article by Lewis Hannam for Channel 4. See also The Home School Reaction, web-published by Channel 4.

Mum Blames Bullying for Truanting -- A British mother was called before magistrate's court for allowing her three teenagers, all of whom were being bullied, to stay home from school. Article web-published by the Dewsbury Reporter.

Bullying Gone Too Far -- On February 8, 2006, 12-year-old Tom Trosvik hanged himself after telling his parents he had been bullied. Now his parents have started an anti-bullying organization, B.U.L.L.Y. Article web-published by KARE.

Messages From the Dark Side -- "Insults became incessant. He was openly mocked for his "greasy" hair and his skin...." A bystander's story. Article by Julian Houston for the Boston Globe.

Driven to Death -- By Bullies -- "Unless you've ever found your child dead there's no way you'd understand what it's like...." Article by David Lowe for the Sun.

Student Reports Harassment -- "girls...have shoved her daughter, Christina, 15, off school buses, punched her in the side of the head and slammed her head into a bathroom wall...." Article by Rick Wills for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Bullies Make Boy's Life Hell -- "Scott had buckled after five months of hell where he had regularly had his pants pulled to his ankles in front of classmates...." Article by Roger Dickson for the Cairns Post.

My Son Is Not Safe at School -- "She says Joshua was kicked so hard in the groin that he 'couldn't walk for five days.'..." Article by Adam Darbyshire for the Tamesside Advertiser.

This Boy Can't Go to School Because of School Bullies -- "Ms Detlefsen alleges he has been beaten up, threatened, victimised and bullied since day one...." Article by Kallee Buchanan for NewsMail.

Victim Hurt Twice When School Enables a Bully -- "The bully and my son had never met before, and the school bus they were riding was filled with the bully's supporters. This was 'his bus....' Article by Bobby Holley for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"Gang Mentality" Bullying Claim.... -- "It's the little kick under the desk, it's the 'You do realise everyone hates you, don't you?'...." Article by Katie Chapman and Emily Watt for Stuff.

Bullying Issues Addressed at Norman Schools -- "She watches her back for him all the time...." Article by Meghan McCormick for the Norman Transcript.

Disabled Teen "Whipping Girl" of Bullies -- "She was kicked, pushed over, they mimicked how she walked and talked...." Article by John Lewis for the Otago Daily Times.

Boy With Cerebral Palsy.... -- "Wilson said the kids trip her son, pin him down and pour dog food in his mouth and kick him between the legs...." Article by Jane Slater for KMGH.

Bullied Out of Class -- Article about the bullying of an autistic boy. "He's been the target of violence. He's been tricked. He's been taunted. And he's been humiliated. All for laughs...." Article by Michael Moore for the Missoulian> See also Parents Tell Hellgate Board Bullying of Special Needs Students Must Stop, by Michael Moore for the Missoulian, and More Could Have Been Done for Special Needs Student, a letter to the editor by Mike Jakupcak for the Missoulian, and Hellgate Middle School to Contract with Non-Profit Group..., by Michael Moore for the Missoulian, and Family Living Apart After Son with Autism Was Bullied..., by Michael Moore for the Missoulian.

Bullied Schoolgirl's Family to Leave Donegal -- "[O]ne bully grabbed her school bag, from behind, and started viciously punching her in her sides and back...." Article by the Derry Journal.

Young Girl Attacked at School and Online -- Jan. 7, 2010. -- Article by Janet Kwak for WOAI.

Two Mothers Stand Up Against Bullies -- Two mothers picketted their bullied children's school. Article by Eddy Ramirez for the St. Petersburg Times.

Bullying: a Mom's Cry for Help -- "He was grabbed from behind. The other boys were making kissy faces and he was asked if he would show his genitalia...." Article web-published by KWCH.

Hockley Mum Pulls Daughter Out of School.... -- Article web-published by the Birmingham Mail.

More Complaints about Bullying at Tamworth School -- "Mrs Penfold said her son would return home from school countless times with torn clothing...." Article by Haley Sheridan for the Northern Daily Leader.

School, Parents Fail to Stop Bullying -- "When my daughter finally had enough bullying in a class, she filed a complaint. The kids responsible got a talking to. Great. The harassment took a short break before it came back full force. Adults around? What adults?" Letter to the editor of the East Valley Tribune by Karen Davis.

Impact of Bullying Can Last a Lifetime -- Article by Erin Cunningham for the Herald-Mail.

A Question of Respect -- 15 parents in Canberra are thinking of launching a class action suit against the local school system because their children have been bullied. Article by Megan Doherty for the Canberra Times. See also Law Society Offers to Mediate..., by Megan Doherty and Louis Andrews for the Canberra Times, and Parents Threaten Action on Bullying, by Louis Andrews for the Canberra Times.

School Official Says District Looking at Bullying Allegations -- Angry parents on Sanibel Island confronted their children's school board about recurrent bullying. Article by McKenzie Cassidy for the Cape Coral Daily Breeze. See also Bullying Complaints Have School Leaders Under Fire, web-published by WZVN.

Parents Claim Daughter Victim of Bully Abuse at School -- "'Jabbed in the neck with pencil,' said father Steve Nelson. 'Punched in the nose.'" Article web-published by NewsChannel 5.

Mum's Pride as Son Puts Bullying Hell Behind Him -- "Then we caught him trying to slash his wrists in the dining room...." Article web-published by the Sentinel.

Florida Mother Uses Gun to End School Bus Bullying -- A mother pointed a gun at several students who had been bullying her son on the school bus. Article web-published by All Headline News.

Mam's Action Call After Bus Stop Incident -- A mother walked her bullied daughter to the bus stop, only to be set upon by the same pack of bullies who had been beating up her daughter. Article by Jonathan Edwards for the Pontypridd Observer.

School Failed to Stop Bullies -- "The bullies are still at the school while my child had to leave for her own safety...." Letter to the editor of the Border Mail.

N.S. Father of Beaten Student... web-published by the Amherst Daily News.

Salisbury East Girl Too Scared to Go to School -- "I don't know if my daughter is going to come home with a broken arm, a split lip, anything...." Article by Maria Moscaritolo for the Advertiser.

Home Schooled Due to Bullies -- "The abuse ... escalated to him being grabbed around the throat and choked, beaten with a mallet in manual arts, punched in the genitals and hit with a rock...." Article by Ryan Heffernan for the Courier Mail.

Georgetown Mother Wants Bullies Stopped -- "'I have to send him to school every day, where I know he'll be picked on, tortured and I don't know whether they'll call me and say, "Your son's dead." I just, I don't know,' Jane said." -- Article by Karina Kling for News 8 Austin.

Mother Pulls Daughter, 11, Out of St. John School Over Bullying -- "When she comes home she cries all the time. She has nightmares...." Article web-published by the CBC.

"'Forced' from School by Bullies -- "She was beaten up, tormented and on one occasion had her hair cut and glue sprayed on her while she sat in class...."> Article by Joe Kent for the BBC.

Group Wants Online Bullies Subdued -- Interestingly, despite the headline, this article is not about cyberbullying. -- "She said she often felt like she was drowning in a sea of bullies, which she likened to "seaweeds pulling you under." Article by Eddy Ramirez for the St. Petersburg Times.

Bullying Article Sets Off Storm of Reaction -- "One parent said she was flabbergasted when staff at her child's school said her child was bullied because he "didn't react correctly, which made him an easy target...." Article by Tracy Kibble for York Region.

Lyneham Students Removed Out of Fear -- "The ACT school system has been dogged by prearranged playground violence appearing on video-sharing sites such as YouTube...." Article by Noel Towell and Sarina Talip for the Canberra Times.

Mom's Stand Against Son's Bullies -- "The last straw was when he was strangled during school hours because he refused to steal a pie ..." Article by Lyse Comins for the Daily News, web-published by the Sunday Tribune.

Ham Lake Parents Who Lost Son Speak Out Against Bullying -- Their 12-year-old son, Tom Trosvik, hanged himself after being "mercilessly teased." Article by Heron Marquez Estrada for the Star Tribune.

All original material on the Raven Days website, except the material appearing in the sections Words Out of Shadow and Lighting the Way, © 1999-2010 by its creator and maintainer, Meredith Minter Dixon.. Copyright to the articles in the sectionsWords Out of Shadow and Lighting the Way is retained by their authors. Counter: 11819