Michigan Votes Forum

 Dam Straight!!!  This is outrageous whats happening in our public school system. Is noone paying attention?

This is a form of terrorism in our own schools. The schools need to be held accountable as well as the parents. Is anyone listening to our children? Most are afraid to go to school, some are apart of the bulling so they dont get bullied themselves and there are those who do not know what to do or who to turn to, so they choose violence and in the end they kill several children and then themselves. Our kids should be able to tell a teacher, princable, councelor or parent and have faith that we will protect them. Instead they are ignored. I know from personal expeirence that some teachers and staff have the belief that bulling is a way of life so we should learn to adapt. Does columbine come to mind or virginia tech, how about the ones we dont here so much about because its so common now that it just doesnt seem to matter.  So you tell me, by schools ignoring this issue; is it working or do we have to see more kids scared and trying to fight back because there is no other way. I myself wont tolerate it, but i am after all only one person.  

We have a real problem in our schools in that 'bullying' is used all too often as a classroom management technique! Because most other forms of discipline/punishment are proscribed from at least the shool board level, and because many children are no longer taught at home to respect authority, many teachers use ridicule and bullying both to enforce wanted behavior and to force compliance with group 'opinion'. I have seen this far too many times to count in the last few years. This is one of the main reasons bullying is so widespread and so accepted among the school population. Often the child being bullied is a 'non-conformer' . . and the staff themselves believes that is a good way of forcing compliance so does nothing to end peer bullying! Rules and laws against bullying are of no use unless something is done to end bullying and ridicule (a form of bullying) by school staff themselves! Only when an actual atmosphere of respect for opposing viewpoints and the difference beween children's family styles and circumstances exists, can school staff demand and enforce a no-bullying law. Staff also needs the full support of administration when the child doing the bullying is , for instance, the child of a school board member or another elite population. They do not have this.

Lets also stop punishing the child who fights back when attacked. All this does in convince the agressor he can get a few licks in without danger of retaliation. A great many bullying events would be resolved by the victim mopping the playground with sweet Little Johnny's sorry butt . . .with the result that Little Johnny doesnt try that stunt again! Problem solved-no law necessary. And prosecutors and judges with a ittle more common sense would help, too.

    Some of these children have mental disabilities (such as ADHD) and the schools seem to have many different excuses as to why these types of children “Do Not” fit into any of their programs for help! Because of the struggles with the school system's, these types of children are only left to take their bulling anger out on their peers and teachers!! 

I am speaking from current experience here! 

    For years my son's Psychologist, Psychiatrist as well as My Self have written and spoke with the school in regards to “Special programs” my son has needed. Our goal has been for him to be able to function in a healthy way at school and with out being a “Bully to others and him self!” We have had no success!! 

Trying to get a IEP done was like pulling teeth! Finally, his test showed (as we knew) he is very smart! There for he doesn't qualify for any kind of help, according to state law! 

According to the school, this is the state police they have to follow. 

    Mean while, my son is a huge disturbance to every one of his peer's and teacher's! He also has serious anger issues! He use to seriously bully and hurt other students! Now he just has to touch them all the time! 

Disrupts class on a daily, constant bases and gets in every ones face! Occasionally he will pinch some one or do some thing else, like purposely trip them or step on their foot!!!  

    We were just at conferences and was told once again, there is nothing they can do but report his behavior to the parents! He is in the 5th grade and has never as much as been sent to the principal's office!!  

Why we ask? As we have tried to encourage the teachers to send him to the Principle. Their answer is, the student has to get so many disciplinary "Colors or Cards" in a certain time frame before they send a student to the principal's office. Also, if they did not do it in this manor there would be many children at the principal's daily! 

    My son for example, knows where his limits are with these colors and cards. He is very good at playing his teachers and the system! What does this say for his future? What are they waiting for? Him to become one of the Bullies who Seriously Break on some one and then blame it on the parents? The state needs to change some of their rules here as well when it comes to “Special Education” and provide programs for Sever ADHD students and the like! 

    I am very against Bulling! ~~ Schools and the State also need to be so against Bullying that they are just as concerned as parents like my self enough to implement programs for the Children who are mentally struggling with anger issues, mood disorders, ADHD, etc 

Many of these children, like my son, are very intelligent! Therefore they do not qualify for help!!

I can assure you that the majority of the children and or young adults who Bully or Commit a Columbine in schools have some sort of underlying mental problem!!! However, they never fit into one of the schools programs because they were to intelligent!!! 

    I must also add for many years now, I and my son’s psychologist have also tried to get the school to involve my son in ~ in school counseling. According to the school, “ well we only have one counselor and he has quiet a case load. Also he is not here all the time, he works in other schools also, we just don’t have the budget for another counselor. I am talking about years here, my son has been put on the back burner!!!

I would have to say our budget cuts to our schools  is quite over drawn!!!!

Sincerely Anti Bulling!!