Steps a Parent Can Take Against Their Child’s Bully: With and Without School Support
Has anyone else faced challenges with their child navigating school? Our family certainly isn’t alone in grappling with the education system, especially when it comes to bullying. My daughter’s struggles began when she was just 8 years old. As a teacher, I always tried to see both sides, knowing my child isn’t always right. But what has happened to children’s empathy?
In third grade, classmates told my daughter they wanted her to die and encouraged her to kill herself. The bullying intensified each year, culminating in her seventh grade spring semester, when I decided to remove her from public school. How can a child go to school when her safety feels threatened every day? I scrutinized my decision until I saw a TikTok video of a mother who had lost her daughter to suicide. She said something profound: if we were in a toxic workplace damaging our mental health, we’d leave. So why allow our children to remain in such environments? An alive child is far more important. That solidified my decision, reassuring me that protecting my daughter’s well-being was paramount.
Steps to Take with School Support
- Document Everything: Keep a detailed record of incidents, including dates, times, what happened, and any communication with the school. This documentation can be crucial when discussing the situation with school officials.
- Communicate with Teachers and Administrators: Start by talking to your child’s teacher and escalate to school counselors, principals, and district officials if necessary. Share your documentation and express the urgency of the situation.
- Request a Meeting: Arrange a formal meeting with school staff to discuss the bullying. Bring your documentation and be clear about the impact on your child and the actions you expect the school to take.
- Follow Up: Keep the communication lines open. Regularly follow up with the school to ensure they are taking steps to address the bullying and to check on your child’s well-being.
- Utilize School Resources: Many schools have anti-bullying programs, counselors, and other resources. Advocate for your child to have access to these supports.
Steps to Take Without School Support
- Consider Alternative Schooling: If the school is not responsive, explore other educational options such as homeschooling, online schools, or private schools where your child might feel safer.
- Empower Your Child: Teach your child coping strategies and ways to respond to bullying. Role-playing different scenarios can help your child feel more prepared.
- Seek External Support: Look for community resources such as counseling, support groups, or organizations that specialize in helping bullied children. Mental health professionals can offer your child tools to cope with the emotional impact of bullying.
- Legal Action: If the bullying persists and the school fails to act, consider seeking legal advice. Laws vary by state, but there may be legal avenues to pursue to protect your child’s rights.
- Create a Safety Plan: Develop a plan with your child on what to do if they feel threatened or unsafe at school. This might include identifying trusted adults they can go to or having a buddy system in place.
Conclusion
Deciding to remove my daughter from public school was not easy, but her safety and mental health are non-negotiable. Parents facing similar challenges should feel empowered to take action, whether through school channels or alternative means. The well-being of our children is the most important consideration.
For more guidance, organizations like StopBullying.gov and the National Bullying Prevention Center offer resources and support for parents and children dealing with bullying.
