School Bullies - What action to taken now?

Question

I have approached the school principal, board of governors, local police and member of parliament. The children are still bullying my son- what is my next reasonable step? Fighting back is not an option - there is more of them than my 2.
This has been going on since he started the school.

Pls advise.

L

Answer 1

I have to question the operation of your community if the local authorities and the principal can't stop the bullying. Maybe you should consider enrolling your son in self-defense classes.

Answer 2

Unfortunately the policy makers don't treat bullying as seriously as they should. certainly by the time children are aged 12 and over they are fully aware of what they're doing and are responsible for their actions.
If bullies behaved the same way outside of school then they would be charged with criminal offences and punished approptiately.
Until the attitude of those in authority changes he best you can do is to not-quite break even. That is, he'll have to move school to one where "their local bullies" don't have contact with the original bullies. If the bullies meet out of school they'll talk about it and then the problem will, unfortunatley, follow the boy.

You could try bringing a private prosecution if the police won't help (their hands are probably tied too by 'do-gooders' at the Town Hall). You will need very good evidence against the bullies and show that they have commited some form of assault. It doesn't need to be physical.
Also, remember that taking someone's lunch money or school books is theaft. If you can proove that then you will also have grounds for a criminal charge.

If that doesn't work then Sadly, it may mean that you have to move house.

Answer 3

It is the worst thing in the world to feel helpless to protect your children. It sounds as if you have done everything reasonable to try to stop this. Going to the press is an option, but if the bullies parents are not willing to stop their children's behaviour,(they must have been spoken to by the school at some point) they are probably ignorant, "rough" families and you may suffer a backlash of intimidation and abuse from the whole family, not just the child bullies, and it could be directed at your whole family, not just your son. At least, at the moment, your son has a loving, safe home to retreat to.
I feel your only option is to remove your son from school, and refuse to send him back until the bullies are dealt with. Insist on the school giving you homework for your son so he does not fall behind his peers.Liaise with his teacher on a daily basis. Take him swimming and play football in the park to substitute for PE.Take him to a church and look at the stained glass windows, explore the grave yard and see how old the gravestones are. Visit the museaums and libraries, walk in the country.
His sense of self will be destroyed if he is made to confront these disgusting children day after day, and we all read horror stories of children resorting to desperate measures when they can no longer cope.
Keep him home, keep him safe, and tell him you love him and that he has done the right thing to bring this to your attention.
What a disgraceful school to allow this to carry on.

Answer 4

The next time any bullying takes place at school I would have your son call you or another adult you know who can file a police report on the behalf of your son ON SCHOOL PREMISES.If someone from your job did the same thing to you there are policy's in place to prevent this kind of behavior and a course of action.Most schools don't like to involve police but they have not given you any options to stop the bullying.Most schools have a mission statement or school improvement plan/policy that states every child in entitled to a education.There are school policy's are attendance,dress codes, vandalism there has to be a policy on harassment and bullying.Most all these policy's are free to the general public the problem is most parents don't know how to go about getting them.I would go directly to your local school board they have to have all school policy's on file for the general public .This bully is preventing your child from receiving that education and and somebody needs to be held accountable.You can challenge the school boards to change school policy's but you first have to do your homework first and find out whats in your school policy.Good Luck

Answer 5

Well im a pupil at a school and as im in year eleven i have to say i dont see any bullying from my year which is a good thing. As for your son you appear to have taken alot of steps to stop this from happening, i think the last resort is maybe threatening to move your son from the school but keeping in mind there are always going to be people who feel the need to bully others so if you do end up moving him it could happen again, Its deffiantly a awful situation to be in and i simpathyse, i hope you sort your problem

Answer 6

first of all i am sorry about the trouble your children are suffering, no child deserves to bullied!

having been to soo many people and not getting anywhere i am sure your thinking no one is on your side! and i certainly do not blame you. I personally think that it is appalling that out of all the people you have been to and they have not offered you any help!

It may seem a bit drastic but i would go to the local press- they would be happy to hear your story but becareful that they only write what you want to say as you know the media can exaggerate a lot. I would first notify the school, govenors, police and parliment that if they can't help you, you will go the press to ask if there is any one out there that can help! tell them straight - the bullying has gone on for far too long and that you are concerned about your children they should be able to provide a safe environment for your children to learn in!

Good luck with getting it sorted and i hope it all works out soon for both the sake of your children and yourself would be great to hear how you get on

San xx

Answer 7

Get a lawyer, take your story to a local newspaper, do whatever it takes to make them sit up and really listen. If your son is being bullied and no one has done anything about it, then seek legal action against the school and the parents of the students. Make them accountable for their children's behavior and their (school personnel) lack of attention to school safety. Let them all know that you are taking measures to ensure the safety of your child as well as other children in the school. If your son is being picked on, teased, bullied, whatever, i am sure there are others that it is happening to as well. Talk to other parents as well and let them know what is going on and what is (Not) being done about it. See if any of them have children who are being bullied as well. If there are other parents and they have reported it and not seen anything done then form a group and lodge a group complaint. Do whatever it takes to make them accountable for the actions of the students responsible.

If nothing comes of it, then, if possible, move your child to another school. It's a bit extreme but the change may be for the best. Better to have a child be comfortable and feel safe at school than to have to worry about being bullied. It will probably help him in the long run. Depending on the age of your son, it may be difficult to switch schools at first but anything would be better than having to deal with bullies.

Answer 8

Time to contact the local and national press, as neither the school nor local authorities have dealt with the situation. Which is disgusting! Tell your story to the papers - which will effectively shame the school and authorities.
And if you find it's just too much for your son to attend - it might be wise to find him a new school. As no child should have to deal with the physical and emotional torment of bullying.

My best wishes to you and your son.

Answer 9

Now you see how the school principal and all the others want do anything about bullying.No one want pay any attention to this evilness in our schools.Some people may call it child play,but it's not.It's hurtful,mean and traumatizing.Some kids go through living hell everyday for no reason,i went through the same thing when i was in school.i was picked on everyday for no reason,and every night i would wish i didn't wake up the morning.I had to leave school,and go to night school.because of them i didn't get a chance to Graduate.Who can you turn to when the Principle and the others want help you.I hope you find some help for your son.God Bless You and your family?

Answer 10

I'm not sure going to the press will be in the best interests of your son - although the threat might alarm the school.
If your son is aged 13 - 19 and resident in England I would advise contacting the Connexions service for support and advice.