Contact Us
16-03-2011, 10:29pm
Poor little bugger. I heard on the news tonight that the little bully was suspended as well. Not defending anyone, but as a former teacher, it is so hard to stop bullying at school. If you stand up for the kid getting bullied, they get picked on worse because they are being singled out. If you protect them at school, the bullies wait for them at the gate.
I will never forget one little bloke who was just gorgeous. He was the youngest of seven, both parents were university lecturers and the rest of the family were high achievers. He was used to negotiating and discussing issues to settle disputes. That left him totally unprepared for high school where he just got belted over and over. I couldn't protect him in the playground because we simply couldn't be everywhere at once. The best I could do for him was let him sit in my office at lunch when he didn't feel safe. He used to get upset because adults would tell him these were the best days of his life. He'd say, 'if this is as good as it gets, then I might as well kill myself'. I told him what I've told so many kids since, just get through it. Survive, it gets better. School is brutal. Never tell your kid those are the best days of their lives, if you think that, you've forgotten what it was like or you were never bullied.
I still see him around Canberra, he is beautiful and has grown into a spectacular young man. Every time he sees me he tells me I was right and tells me about his life. I wish they would listen when we tell them it gets better, we lose too many of them to accidents, risky behavior and suicide. I'm not surprised the big kid snapped.
I will never forget one little bloke who was just gorgeous. He was the youngest of seven, both parents were university lecturers and the rest of the family were high achievers. He was used to negotiating and discussing issues to settle disputes. That left him totally unprepared for high school where he just got belted over and over. I couldn't protect him in the playground because we simply couldn't be everywhere at once. The best I could do for him was let him sit in my office at lunch when he didn't feel safe. He used to get upset because adults would tell him these were the best days of his life. He'd say, 'if this is as good as it gets, then I might as well kill myself'. I told him what I've told so many kids since, just get through it. Survive, it gets better. School is brutal. Never tell your kid those are the best days of their lives, if you think that, you've forgotten what it was like or you were never bullied.
I still see him around Canberra, he is beautiful and has grown into a spectacular young man. Every time he sees me he tells me I was right and tells me about his life. I wish they would listen when we tell them it gets better, we lose too many of them to accidents, risky behavior and suicide. I'm not surprised the big kid snapped.