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Randy Duke of Victoria, TX is picketing his son Max's school with a sandwich sign. It reads, "Bullying victims are punished here." Max was bullied by kids until he'd had enough. He'd been picked on for three years, and finally fought back.
Administrators say there's no changing their decision to send Max to an alternative school for 30 days. Now Mr. Duke stands vigil outside Cade Middle School on his precious time home from Afghanistan.
Max had made a paper airplane for a special needs child, and the bullies, who he said follow him everywhere, stepped on it. According to the news story, they went at it, and guess who got punished? Now Max can't attend marching band, the only thing that was helping bring him out of his shell, his father said.
Let's send a strong message to Cade Middle School Principal Lisa Blundell. Tell her the rules need to change. Bullies should be punished. Not their victims. Send email to Lisa.Blundell@visd.net.
Sorry I'm not able to copy a link to the story. It's just not working for some reason!
Replies
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Schools dont do shit to stop bullying anymore and more often then not the victim is labled as over sensitive and then when they finally fight back, are the ones punished...its disgusting.
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Go dad :) I am glad he stood up to that billy. I did and it felt great. I also helped others out since he lost all his power when he got his butt whooped by the smallest kid at the school. The kid not only helped himself but countless others. -
I was just thinking 'back in the day'....that's how it was when I was in school. We'd walk up the street to the junkyard, and the 2 kids would duke it out. Then everyone went home. Parents didn't get involved, schools didn't get involved. Life went on.
Quoting ButterMeUp:
Here if you fight period, it's automatic alternative school. If you're arrested, it's jail time plus a year in Alternative school.
Quoting EireLass:
What happened to fighting after school, so you didn't get caught by anyone?
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For years and years, I was bullied. Thankfully, never physical. Even when it was brought to the attention of teachers, bus drivers, principal... nothing was ever done. They ruined me, I have NO self-esteem... even now. My children will be taught to stand up for themselves. I don't condone them starting any sort of physical fight, or being a bully themselves... but if they get in trouble for defending themselves (maybe even someone who cannot defend themselves) they won't ever be in trouble with me. I think the zero tolerance policies are BS... especially when we've all grown up in an environment where we've either been or known the bully or the victim.
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I'm so sorry you were bullied as a child. No one deserves that. You are so right. Zero tolerance policies are bogus and very bad for childred. I will tell you that often they come from federal laws. If school districts benefit from federal funding of any kind, they must fall in line with the federal guidelines, including the Drug-Free and Gun Free Schools Acts. So I think that is why schools do it. With the money comes the mandate. I would bet that even independent school districts are obligated to follow the mandates.
When it comes down to it, we parents grant the schools permission to teach our children "in loco parentis." We are the ones that must answer to them, and whatever higher authority we believe in, for what we do. We carry the ultimate power.
Quoting LuvMyBrennaBean:
For years and years, I was bullied. Thankfully, never physical. Even when it was brought to the attention of teachers, bus drivers, principal... nothing was ever done. They ruined me, I have NO self-esteem... even now. My children will be taught to stand up for themselves. I don't condone them starting any sort of physical fight, or being a bully themselves... but if they get in trouble for defending themselves (maybe even someone who cannot defend themselves) they won't ever be in trouble with me. I think the zero tolerance policies are BS... especially when we've all grown up in an environment where we've either been or known the bully or the victim.
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OMG!!! I just remembered something very significant in my life. There was a bully named Kevin. A sturdy, olive-skinned boy with slicked-back hair. He taunted kids. And he must have taunted me, somewhere between fourth and sixth grades. Because I tackled him on the Robbin's front lawn, up the block from school. I mean I took him off his feet, I was so angry. And I sat on him and punched him. There was someone else watching, maybe my brother or a friend. I imagine now that Kevin said belittling things, taunting me. He never hit me. But in a fraction of a second, I disallowed him to see me as a second rate person. I never got in trouble. And he never bothered me again.
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I teach my kids to stand up for themselves. If they ever get in trouble, I will deal with the school.
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Here is the problem, as I see it, schools can have all of the bully rules they want, but they are basically powerless to do anything to a bully. Our child has been the victim of bullying and we have told her that if she feels the need to punch that kid in the throat, she can do it. We will totally support her and will defend her to the school system. All day, certain troubled kids cause stress and pain to others, but because they may have ADD, ADHD, be from a broken home, ,etc...excuses are made for that behavior and the victim is expected to 'fix' the situation. Bullshit! Adults need to fix the problem. I will have a 2 strike rule - first bullying incident - detention, second problem - kicked out of shcool to let the parents deal with their precious snowflake.
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It sucks that he got into trouble too, but I think his father should stand by the rules of the school and support his punishment, as long as the bully is punished too. Maybe instead of picketing the school dad should pat his son on the back for finally standing up to this creep, and accept the suspension like a man.
My daughter was in third grade when a boy kept picking on her on the bus. He stole her keychain and taunted her so she balled up her fist and knocked him upside his face and knocked him down. Of course the bus driver had both of them in front of the principal as soon as the bus arrived at school, but once all of the other kids made it clear HE was bullying her, she got off with having to attend a class on conflict resolution with the school counselor and HE got expelled. Never had another problem but I would have supported her suspension if she'd gotten it. Do the crime, pay the time. Doesn't matter it you were the victim, if you choose to hit on school property for whatever reason, you broke the rules.
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If any one tries to bully my son he knows he can punch them in the face and we will stand behind him all the way. I refuse to let my kids become victims of bullying.