Comments on: Mental Monday: My Kid Was Suspended for Bullying? I’m On The Case.

By: Luschka

Luschka — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:04:10 +0000

Here in the UK a girl was sentenced to 7 years in prison this week as her victim jumped out of a second floor window to escape the bullying. I can’t help but wonder if this could have been avoided if the bully had had better parenting. Sad post, this (Stopping by from SITS)

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By: Newlywed & Unemployed

Newlywed & Unemployed — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:00:18 +0000

I’m surprised this even made it to court. When kids go to school, they participate under a code of conduct that is (usually?) outlined in their student handbooks. Expectations and consequences are clearly stated and by attending school, a student (and their parents) agree to abide by such a code.

Maybe there was no student handbook at her school, but I’d be surprised.

Still, totally inappropriate on the father’s part. The lack of accountability is terrifying.

Newlywed & Unemployed recently posted..Wedding Vows

By: lemonologie

lemonologie — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:03:10 +0000

Well said. Parents have to step up! Being a “mean girl” is NOT okay. Girls are brutal to each other and all parents of girls (myself included) have to be extra careful to teach our girls that you do not have to bully other girls to move forward in life.

Thanks for visiting me on my SITS day the other week!

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By: Shell

Shell — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:45:18 +0000

When I was teaching middle school, this came up A LOT. Even more with girls, who are MEAN in middle school. I would talk to the parents of the girls who are bullying and it’s amazing to me that the general response was “So what? Kids will be kids. That other kid needs to develop a tougher skin. I’m not going to force my kid to be nice to someone they don’t like.” And this from the parents of kids who didn’t just make one little comment, but who basically terrorized other kids.

By: Maya

Maya — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:31:27 +0000

jdaniel’s mom brings up a good point: her parents not only should be letting her know her behavior is totally unacceptable, but also trying to figure out why she is behaving that way. does she have anger issues? fears of peer pressure?

i think it’s so unfortunate that parents would rather be their kids’ friends, or prove points, than to actually be parents!

*from SITS

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By: JDaniel4's Mom

JDaniel4's Mom — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:46:00 +0000

It seems they missed the bigger issue. Why is she bullying other kids? What is going on in her life that made her feel she needed to bully them? Since her dad is bullying the school system, did she learn bullying at home.

Stopping by from SITS!

By: Cristina

Cristina — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:04:12 +0000

I wonder what the father’s take (other than the obvious) is? I have a feeling he did this so he would be in the paper and promote himself. No real parent – i.e. sole interest is molding and contributing to the healthy emotional and basic teachings of life lessons to get along in society to their children (sorry, I know that was long) would sue the school over their child being suspended for being a bully.

Disgusted.

With love from SITS,
Cristina

Cristina recently posted..What Matters Now

By: Caution Flag

Caution Flag — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:22:47 +0000

How terrible!! How did that lawsuit ever get through the system? That is the thing that bothers me. At what point did common sense leave the judicial system? Well, I guess it’s been gone for a long time, but still!

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By: Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:37:23 +0000

This is outrageous! Apparently the father is a bully too. Unbelievable that the court ruled in favor of the bully! This is just plain wrong.

Visiting from SITS.

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By: The Dude

The Dude — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:12:10 +0000

What I find reprehensible about all of this is not the judge’s opinion (with which I happen to agree), but the father’s reaction. That an activity may be protected under the First Amendment has nothing to do with whether that activity is appropriate for a 12-year-old or acceptable in an elementary school. A “Fuck the War” t-shirt, flag burning, and even pornography are protected First Amendment speech/activities; none seem appropriate for an eighth grader.

For the father to intervene in the manner he did may have established an interesting legal precedent, but only at the expense of good parenting. Bullying a school district when it appropriately responds to a child’s bullying only reinforces that such behavior is acceptable. No doubt, the daughter learned such gross behavior at home.