Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving


Turkey, by Mansur. For Emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-27). India.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Bus Bullies: The Saga Continues

Yeah, I'm not happy about it, either. We're getting to the end of our rope, fast. Apparently, the Gruesome Threesome are still causing trouble, and it was getting bad again- Andy was being tripped, pushed, and told ugly things, his friends insulted, the works of just nasty bus bullying. I emailed the principal that it was continuing. Then when Andy came home yesterday in tears, I called.

So how was it handled? Technically, I have no idea. I have no note from the school, no phone call, nothing.

But according to my son, they moved him to the back of the bus. Not the bullies- my son. He was moved away from his friends, who he now sees as unprotected, and to the back of the bus, with kids he doesn't really know.

Is it me, or did they just punish my child for being bullied?

AGAIN?

Andy certainly sees it that way. He has to readjust to new bus companions. He is worried about his friends. He wants to know what he did wrong.

He did nothing wrong. In fact, he is doing everything he is being taught to do- stand up for himself and his friends, report the incidents to an adult, when the bus driver did nothing, he came to me and to his principal. He is talking about it at social skills group and letting people know there is a problem.

He is learning that the bullying doesn't stop, and he is the one who gets punished. On top of that, the bullies are having their behavior reinforced, by removing the kid who was standing up to them.

I'm sorry, but after this long, those other kids need to be removed from that bus. I don't care what alternate arrangements are made to get them home- that is none of my business. But punishing my child for their behavior is not the answer.