Portland, Tennessee Blog

Bully's need to be shown how it feels to be in the person's shoes they are bullying!!
My daughter is hearing impaired and she attends Our wonderful High School and guess what? The high school has plenty of bullies, I always taught her she was just as good as anyone else and don't ever let noone run over you. So I get a call from the Principal one day my daughter was in his office for fighting. Of course I am thinking he has my child mistaken for someone else's he told me what had happen. I go to the school to find out the true story. This young man whom my daughter slugged had been making fun of her for over 2 months and she had enough and she punched him twice (I am not a violent person)they were wanting to place her in oss and pat him on the back. Lets just drop it here and say HE was suspended for 5 days after 16 students came forward and told of the harrasment. I was brought up old school scrapping with someone was just the way things was handled but I didn't want my child to handle things that way I have always taught her to stand her ground in her beliefs but don't ever start trouble and never take it.. I have to admit I was proud of her that day not for fighting but for knocking the bully out.. Way too go baby girl. Bully's are everywhere not only in school, there are Grownups whom are bullies as well,and sometimes children see this trait with the parent and they think it is ok to act this way. I have taught my daughter to turn the other cheek and she just got tired of turning the cheek that day. Bullies lack love in their lives that is the way I look at it.. and teaching our children right from wrong starts at home.
If you are ever at the High School pay attention to the CDC kids they are treated as outcast and to me that is the schools faught for catergorizing these children.. I could have not ask for better teachers cause she has had two great teachers in the past 2 years.. Its the Board of Education that catergorizes let me just rephrase that, don't want to step on too many toes in one day... till tomorrow May God bless all

I think ANON meant to post this comment on this thread. This is not my opinion.

"You know what your son needs to do. He needs to learn how to throw a punch. I had bullies thru the 5th grade till the 9th grade. Then I got BIG. No one messed with me once i was big. I told teachers, coaches, principles, and no one would help...you can only help yourself. Teach the kid to fight...and no one will mess with him again. All it takes is taking one bully down, and they all come down like a house of cards."

Posted by: annon. at October 23, 2007 08:27 AM

I see many different insights on bullies and what to do about them here. And there are many reasons why certain kids are bullies. Not all of them are the parents fault, not all of it is the televisions fault, not all of it is mental illness, ect..ect..ect...but all these do have an effect on our children. I know from frist hand experience what a bully is and what they can do. This led me to many fights and lots of unwanted attention. Parents and educators alike need to take drastic action toward these bullies. Not just in forms of punishment, because is that really fixing the problem? Educate them, counsel them and most importantly show them love. I know not all will take but if just one, is that not hope to continue? As for the victims of these horrid acts, stay steadfast,strong and always let someone know what is happening to you. There is no shame in trying to protect yourself and do the right thing. Godspeed.

hello posted.....

"To answer the question, where do these kids learn this behavior? Go to the store, and listen to how many parents, cuss and or yell at there children and talk down to them. Or to hear their parents talking badly about another person. Children only repeat and do as they are taught. Remember, there are little ears EVERYWHERE!!!!! "

I agree 100%. You see this all to often.....parents cursing or yelling at their kids, or running other people down in front of their kids. Many kids become jerks because their parents are jerks. Sort of like the attitude of grown adults wearing "White House Sucks" shirts to football games. I could never imagine either of my parents doing something so stupid and childish. These people need to let go of their high school days.

Sorry for such a long post, but I didn't know how to explain how to get to it without complicated directions. I hope that by posting the law in it's entirety will benefit many families.

49-6-1014. Legislative findings — Safety and civility. —
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) A safe and civil environment is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards;

(2) Harassment, intimidation or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behavior, is conduct that disrupts a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment; and
(3) Students learn by example. School administrators, faculty, staff and volunteers who demonstrate appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect and refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation or bullying, encourage others to do so as well.

[Acts 2005, ch. 202, § 1.]

49-6-1015. Definition of “harassment, intimidation or bullying” —

As used in §§ 49-6-1014 — 49-6-1019, “harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any act that substantially interferes with a student's educational benefits, opportunities or performance, that takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided transportation, or at any official school bus stop, and that has the effect of:
(1) Physically harming a student or damaging a student's property;

(2) Knowingly placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student's property; or

(3) Creating a hostile educational environment.

[Acts 2005, ch. 202, § 1.]

49-6-1016. Development of policy regarding harassment, intimidation or bullying. —

(a) Each school district shall adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying. School districts are encouraged to develop the policy after consultation with parents and guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators and community representatives.

(b) School districts are encouraged to include in the policies:

(1) A statement prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying;

(2) A definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying;

(3) A description of the type of behavior expected from each student;

(4) A statement of the consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person who commits an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying;

(5) A procedure for reporting an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including a provision that permits a person to report an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying anonymously. Nothing in this section may be construed to permit formal disciplinary action solely on the basis of an anonymous report;
(6) A procedure for prompt investigation of a report of an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying;

(7) A statement of the manner in which a school district shall respond after an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying is reported, investigated and confirmed;

(8) A statement of the consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person found to have committed an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying;

(9) A statement prohibiting reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying and stating the consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person who engages in such reprisal or retaliation;
(10) A statement of the consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person found to have falsely accused another of having committed an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying as a means of reprisal or retaliation or as a means of harassment, intimidation or bullying;

(11) A statement of how the policy is to be publicized within the district, including a notice that the policy applies to behavior at school-sponsored activities;
(12) The identification by job title of school officials responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented; and
(13) A procedure for discouraging and reporting conduct aimed at defining a student in a sexual manner or conduct impugning the character of a student based on allegations of sexual promiscuity.

[Acts 2005, ch. 202, § 1.]

49-6-1017. Adoption of policy — Transmission of copy of policy to the commissioner of education. —
Each LEA shall adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying and transmit a copy of the policy to the commissioner of education by January 1, 2006.
[Acts 2005, ch. 202, § 1.]

49-6-1018. Reprisal or retaliation prohibited — Reporting harassment, intimidation or bullying — Immunity from damages. —

(a) A school employee, student or volunteer may not engage in reprisal or retaliation against a victim of, witness to, or person with reliable information about an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(b) A school employee, student or volunteer who witnesses or has reliable information that a student has been subjected to an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying is encouraged to report the act to the appropriate school official designated by the school district's policy.

(c) A school employee who promptly reports an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying to the appropriate school official in compliance with the procedures set forth in the school district's policy is immune from a cause of action for damages arising from any failure to remedy the reported act.

[Acts 2005, ch. 202, § 1.]

49-6-1019. Task forces, programs or other initiatives. —
School districts are encouraged to form harassment, intimidation or bullying prevention task forces, programs, and other initiatives involving school employees, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, guardians, law enforcement, and community representatives.

[Acts 2005, ch. 202, § 1.]

Enroll your kid in a karate class. They will teach discipline and self-defense, and also show him how to handle himself in this situation.

JW-You went to 62 schools! geez, that's crazy. I wasn't bullied too much in school because I was quick to fight but my brother was and it can have long lasting effects. It is a very serious issue and a tragic truth in America.

Michelle, Can you tell me where I can find a copy of the TN Anti-bullying Law. I did a google but nothing came up.
Thanks

If this bullying problem is not being delt with by the child's teacher, you have a duty to bring this to the attention of the school principal. With most school shootings being traced back to kid's that were bullied, I would think that this matter would be taken seriously. A safe environment, both physically and psychologically is the number one priority of any school. If it is not, then that school has some serious issues that need to be looked into.

When I was a child, I was bullied. I did not attend elementary school in Portland. I lived in a little town and my step-father was known for his drinking. And I was very overweight. This is a prime target for kids. I was bullied terribly growing up. Which is turn made me a very insecure person. I now have children of my own. I taught them at a very young age to NEVER make fun of people. No matter what the circumstance is. The punishment they received at school, bus etc, would be nothing compared to what they would recive once I heard about it. There was an incidence about 3 years ago where my son was being bullied on the bus. The driver did nothing about it, so I called the Board of Education. They informed me that I would have to call the Board of Transportation, I did. Nothing was done. So, I know what I did was wrong, but, I called the bus driver at home. She took care of it. When it comes to your children, you will do anything to prevent them from getting hurt. Anything!
My sister is an elementary teacher, she has told me that some children do tattle incessently, while others are really having trouble with bullies. To answer the question, where do these kids learn this behavior? Go to the store, and listen to how many parents, cuss and or yell at there children and talk down to them. Or to hear their parents talking badly about another person. Children only repeat and do as they are taught. Remember, there are little ears EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Unfortunately this attitude by this teacher is nothing new.

I did not go to school in TN, My dad was a preacher so I went to many different schools during my 12 years. 62 to be exact. It seemed I was always the one with a target on my head for bullies, I had things done to me that many would find unimaginable. I don't say this for any other reason then to let people know that I told my teacher repeatedly what was going on and nothing was done. In fact she eventually got to the point where she would walk away from where ever she saw I was at.

Now I know this may have been years ago, but I would hope that by now we as a society have progressed a little further than this....apparently I was wrong.

If your teacher won't do anything about it, then you MUST. I have sent both of my children to Karate classes, both my son and daughter are Blackbelts. I did not send them to Karate to learn to fight or become aggressive. They learned in Karate how to excercise self control and learned how to show good Character, BUT they also learned how to defend themselves and I as well as there karate teacher have told them Karate is only to be used as a method of defense. If someone is bullying (hitting) or touching them against their will and the teacher won't do anything about it, then they know what to do. This is not condoning violence, it is preventing it.

DebraP
My 7 year old grandson has experienced the same situation already 2 times this year, incidents that have happened on the bus from a 10 year old. My daughter called right away to the principal who took care of the situation both times immediately, the 2nd time I believe he may of been taken off the bus for a few days because there were several days right there after that this boy did not ride the bus. The things this boy said to my grandson were both horribly threatening and utterly disgusting. Where do they learn this type of behaviour at such a young age! I hope you and your daughter get some positive results.

My daughter did call the principal as soon as my grandson got off the bus and told him what had happened. He said he would talk care of it tomorrow. He better or this will be taken further.
This is not the first time this has happened.

It really worries me more about the older child on the bus picking on him. It's hard for a bus driver to watch the children and keep her eyes on the road. I'm sure my daughter will be at the road waiting on the bus tomorrow.

I hate the fact that we have to worry if our children are safe at school or on the bus waiting to get home.

DebraP- telling a teacher that someone is bullying you is not being a tattle tale and I encourage you or your daughter to follow up immediately with the teacher, inform her of Sumner County's policy on bullying and you might even mention Tennessee's anti-bullying law for good measure.

Take action now, before it gets too bad and reassure your grandson that he did the RIGHT THING by telling and to continue telling. No matter what the teacher calls it, he has a lawful right to tell when he is being bullied and they (the school) have a lawful obligation to protect him. Period!

If talking to the teacher doesn't work, take it up with the principal. If that doesn't do it, file a WRIITEN complaint to Benny Bills, Director of Sumner County Schools.

I'm sorry to hear your grandson is having trouble and I am disappointed that the teacher reacted the way she did. It sent the wrong message to both your grandson AND the bullies. Good luck to you all.