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SpeakFree Series
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The Bullying Debate Part 1
May 2005
No guns in my house, I have a child
To be honest with you, I'm not sure what it says about the mentality of Americans. I just know that I wont allow ANY kind of weapon in my home BECAUSE of my daughter. Which is why I'm fighting so hard to get the Federal Anti-Bullying Law FINALLY passed and legal in the state of Maryland. My views on having weapons in the house only make it far more easier for a kid to turn into a bully and then turn into a real threat. Prime example: Columbine. The shootings there were done not because those boys WERE bullies, it was because they WERE bullied and I do believe at the time that there was no Federal Anti-Bullying Law where they lived either. Weapons and bullies are a dangerous mixture. One of these days, the two boys who have been repeatedly bullying my daughter, are going to bring a weapon and someone, maybe her, is either going to seriously hurt or worse. I found out that when she was beat up by [expletive]. There were NO adults around - NONE. After I finish with the Maryland "bully" bill, I plan on suing the school for non-supervision and child endangerment. I am one mother that you do NOT want to mess with because I will NOT back down.
-Patty
Bullying leads to lifetime of heartache
Bill 407 is sitting in Governor Erhlich's office. This bill has been denied twice. There is no reason that this bill should be denied a third time. People need to call and ask the Governor to pass and sign this needed bill. Students are hurting that are victims of bullying. Many suffer silently because they feel they have no one to turn to or no one cares/ listens. Bullying can have short and long-term effects. However many victims will suffer long term with self-esteem issues, depression and a lot of them will commit suicide. (Bullycide- suicide as a result of bullying.) It is sad to say, but sometimes administrators don't want to admit or acknowledge the problem.
-Norma. Maryland
FREESTYLIN’ FEEDBACK: Moms SpeakOut
‘Boys will be boys’ a cop out, mom says
My son was bullied and mentally tortured so bad that he killed himself. The school did nothing to stop this. "Boys will be boys" is a cop out. Girls are just as bad or worse when it comes to bullying.
Why should kids be made to feel that bad that they see no other way out than to take their own lives? Most kids who suicided [sic] to get away from bullies, had no other (mental) problems. They were fine until they were tormented every day by a group or one bully. We need schools to handle this, our kids are supposed to be safe in school. What can parents do when the school stays out of it and hides from the problem?
-Maggie. Girardville, Pennsylvania
School blaming the victim, not taking action
I've been writing and calling everyone I can think of until I am blue in the face. My daughter is being bullied at school and the school is doing nothing about it. In fact, they are turning it around and blaming HER for getting hurt and blaming HER for being bullied. I've had so many school meetings where all that school did was lambaste my daughter and then turn around say "Oh we love Katie so much because she is such a joyous child and a joy to be around" but when she gets beat up by a BLACK boy, they suddenly turn their heads and say that she somehow instigated. I am NOT prejudiced but when I see my daughter being terrorized and bullied by the same two boys that have been bullying her since she's been in that school (in Maryland, United States), I get extremely angry and protective. Something has GOT to be done. I found out that the House Bill 407, the anti-bullying law for Maryland passed house, senate, and congress but it has to go to the governor for final yes or no. And I found out that Governor Robert Ehrlich Jr has vetoed the bill EVERY TIME it’s come through his desk.
-Patricia, Rockville, Maryland
FEATURED STORY THIS WEEK:
“Paid the highest price a parent can pay”
This letter was sent to SpeakFree and we contacted the writer for her complete story.
Trust me, you do not want to ask me what I think about bullying. It cost me everything, my daughter, my life, my sanity, absolutely everything,. My daughter Corinne was a mothers dream, she was smart, beautiful, talented, respectful, loving, generous, fair, she was absolutely everything one would want in a child. My daughter had no other problems in her life, absolutely none She was stolen from me, by children who were not taught to treat others as they would like to be treated. And I ask you what did I get for all my hard work, a headstone, that is all I have left of my precious baby girl. Of course I am mad, who wouldn’t be. Who among you have buried a child? Until you have please do not suggest that I have a cavalier attitude about this, please do not suggest that I go to grief counseling and it will make it all better. I have to hear everyday about the events that the girls that drove my daughter to her death are involved in, the time they ran the mile, my daughter will never run again. They come home every night, my daughter will never walk through my door again.. So , please tell me what have those parents that did not teach their children God’s law, what punishment have they paid. I have paid the highest price a parent can pay. To me, it is as if the murderer that murdered my child lives next door to me and there is nothing I can do about it. No one has even apologized for my daughter’s death. I could write a novel about what I think about bullying. If you knew Corinne, If you spent one moment with her, you could write the same novel, she was that wonderful. -Rochelle, Rockdale, Texas
Last week’s WebPoll
Do you believe that being a victim of bullying is just a natural part of growing up for a child?
Yes- 25%
No- 75%
Undecided- 0%
PART ONE INCLUDES
-a mother speaks out about the loss of her child
-moms SpeakOut
-the debate over guns begins
-new feature “ASK JB” with letters to JB
-readers let loose in another SpeakFree-for-all
