How come bully isn’t expelled?
Published 10:02 am Thursday, April 10, 2014
I attended Albert Lea schools growing up and my children now attend the schools as do my friends’ children. When I leave my kids at school and go to work, I should feel confident in the system that my children are taken care of and protected.
I recently found out that it is not the case for all children. I have a dear friend whose child is being bullied and nothing is being done about it. Just yesterday (April 7) at 4:30 p.m. she found out that her son was bullied! The incident included being headbutted in the face and slammed on the ground at Halverson Elementary School.
What happened to zero tolerance? Why does the school not protect our children when we are not there with them or even bother to call and inform us on situations that take place?
When I was in school, if you got into a fight you were expelled from school immediately. The child who did the bullying did not receive any punishment besides being restricted from going outside for the day with the class.
I find this very alarming that a bully faces no penalty for physically harming another child. My first reaction was to encourage the mother to call authorities, but when I mentioned this she replied saying that her child is so scared to even allow his mother to take any action in fear of what may happen to him from the bully.
Our children shouldn’t have to live in fear to go to school and not be protected. As parents our job is to make sure our kids are safe and cared for, but how do we do that when our schools don’t act the same way? At what point will the schools decide to practice what they preach and keep our kids safe and find the help for the bullies that are damaging other students?
Please speak up for our children and be the voices that will be listened to. If you are a parent of a bully, it’s time to be a parent and correct the aggressive behaviors and teach your kids to respect all children.
MIchelle Neeley
Northwood