Address bullying

There has been a lot of discussion lately about bullying in schools. A lovely young girl recently committed suicide because of bullying. According to what I'm hearing, this is not an isolated case. Many teens have killed themselves because their lives were made a hell by bullies.

Quite a few years ago, when our daughter was 3, we sent her to preschool. Her first month or so filled her with delight. Then I began to notice how she sort of drooped when it was time to go to school. She said she was sick, her tummy hurt, her head ached, etc. I got down on my knees and coaxed her to tell me what was really wrong.

She broke into tears and told me that a boy was hurting her, giving her wrist burns, scaring her and pushing and hitting her. She said the boy's brother was afraid of him, too. I phoned a mother or two from her class and their children were reporting the same thing. I called the school and complained -- and guess what? I was told they were aware of the aggressiveness of this child and that boys will be boys, and that if I stepped in and helped her, I'd make a weakling of her, that she'd never be able to fight for herself.

I told them that if she couldn't come to us at the age of 3, she'd certainly never come to us at the age of 13. I withdrew her from the class.

Today, she is an accomplished, confident adult. My point is, don't just assume all is well. Ask your child if everything is OK and don't allow your child to be bullied.

 

L. CALDWELL
Pleasant Hills