There is absolutely NO way I would send my children to public school. I honestly think there is little, if any, good that comes from them that cannot be done at home, and better. Heck, my youngest daughter got into a typing game on our computer in the mid 90’s on our home computer that made her an unbelievably fast and accurate typist. And boy, does that carry over to her university work.
There is more than enough curriculum available to teach kids anything they (or their parents) want them to learn. One parent homeschools while the other earns the bread. Or, if they are a “professional” couple, they can send their kids to private school.
Public schools are not only obsolete, but actually do more harm than good, not only academically but socially.
if teachers anda admins did their jobs, there would be no bullies because they’d be stopped before they got out of hand. I saw this a lot.
parents should complain about the box cutter attack to the police, and talk to the principal via attorney. don’t let the school get in between the police and criminal activity.
Good grief, how can these parents in ANY good conscience send their kids back to that school???? How??
Would any of us go back to work if coworkers were threatening us or assaulting us with boxcutters?
But eventually I had had enough. In PE class one day I rebelled. “Coach” caught us, and told us to put on the gloves.
I didn't do much damage to the bully, but he never bothered me again, nor did anyone else. They had a lot of pea-brains back then, but at least they let the few with some sense handle things when they occurred in their classes. Unlike today.
My son was bullied as a kindergardener while waiting in line in the cafeteria. I called the head of security and his answer was, “Well, what was your son doing in the cafeteria.” I pulled him and his sister out and homeschooled then through high school.
(Chest puffing out in pride) He fought all four of them off
He still got suspended.
For "fighting"
When the principal asked what punishment we as parents were also going to give him, I told her...
"He gets to go to the zoo, museum, sleep in, and treat it as a vacation."
She didn't feel that was "constructive" for his behavior.
That's when I told her the family rule: "Never start the fight, but always finish it. Don't throw the first punch, but be sure to throw the last one"
She never spoke to us again - she was a first year principal, and only lasted two at that school....
Change behavior...hmmm - how ‘bout giving the victim permission to go nuts on the bully’s ass? If I’m the dad, I’m giving my kid permission to fight as hard as he or she needs to to get the point across. Kick, bite, scratch, pull, gouge - just like I’ve taught my girls if they ever find themselves being attacked on a date or by a stranger. And scream, and keep screaming.
Colonel, USAFR
It makes sense that the schools would avoid bullying a situation with bullying students. Chances are, the bullies’ parents are also bullies and would make a living hell for the administrators if challenged. Easier to not get involved.
Two words: Home school.
The consensus seems to be that confronting the bullies is the answer. What do the children whose parents WON’T back them up do? What about little Johnny that finally gets fed up with the bullies, takes on the group, gets beat up, goes home and his parents punish him? Or, ignore the whole thing?
If we, as a society, are going to require children to spend their time around people who hate them and wish them harm, shouldn’t we have an option beyond stick up for yourself and hope all goes well?
Bathrooms in my highschool were full of people smoking and taking drugs. Being able to go eight hours without using the bathroom is useful on long car trips.
After reading many posts. It brought some things to mind when I was growing up. Like then and now it seems those in charge a lot of times support the bully.
I have a 12 year old and he remarked to me that a person defending themselves would get into bigger trouble at school. I told him that he had a right to defend himself. I also told him not to start cr@p either. I told him it would be better to get in trouble at school defending himself versus not defending himself which will entice other kids to pick on him as well. He also takes karate.
In my own upbringing during middle school, that was a very challenging time for me. I mention a couple of instances. One time, there were hot air balloons in the neighborhood so I rode my bike over. I happen to cross paths with one of them and got some threats from him. I was going to proceed to defend myself and his father came up and grabbed me and threatened to kick my @$$. He ordered me to leave and I started to cuss him out and then his father went into a tirade such that, “you know who I am, how dare you...” and then threatened to have me arrested ! He was some bigwig someplace. He then went to a police officer and the officer demanded I leave. Really p!$$ed me off ! I was not even permitted to give my side and the officer remarked that very important people such as adults are entitled to respect !
Another instance in school, I was on the gym teacher s*** list and he was friends with a couple of the bullies. Funny thing about him, even after I left the school, every time I was out and about I got nasty looks from him. He was a real jerk and the ironic thing today, he is a commissioner with a High School Athletic Association, not going to mention the state though. Funny thing, his wife at the time got so p!$$ed at me when I was saying it was great when Reagan got elected President in 1980. She was a Jimmy Carter fan and had stuff in her classroom concerning Carter.
Hey, come on! In Madison, Wisconsin, thy’re demanding a hundred K a year for this - plus health and retirement.