HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL

One of the many stresses of our modern-day, social dysfunctions, is centered a round bulling, and school bulling especially.

Most discussions you hear, read about, or see on TV seem to be designed to address the motivation by the bullies to torment their victims.

This Hub does not approach the solution to protecting your child, from that point of view. Children, who bully, have list of psychological reasons to choose from that are designed to mitigate or justify their unwarranted persecution, physical and emotional attacks on other children.

Bottom line is, there is no [acceptable reason] for one child to be subjected to unprovoked, ill treatment from another child, with out the hope of rescue from, the adults who are aware of the infraction, and legally responsible for the welfare of that child

The main reason why schools look the other way and pretend it’s just an awkward phase all children must encounter and learn to adjust to, is money.

Each public school receives a daily allotment, for each child that attends classes at the school. If the child misses a day that amount is deducted from the schools budget.

Of course, if you ask them, if this is the case, they will say: that idea is ridiculous. But the fact remains, non-action, about such a well publicized problem, is motivated by some reason that they do not share with the parents of bullied children.

So lets say the going rate of federal reimbursement, per child…per day is, [$42.00] multiply that by the number of routine absentees that occur during a school year. If the average is 20 students a day times 200 school days, then that school will loose $168,000 of its, federally-subsidized-budget for that year.

So let’s say that a school bully is suspended, or, better yet, expelled for the entire school year, the potential for additional lost revenue is sizable.

Though the money may seem a minor concern to a parent who’s, child comes home complaining, about being bullied, to the local board of education and the school; where the bulling is taking place, it may be the difference between having an additional janitor or buying, books.

So what can you as a parent do to over come the route of all evil?

First let’s break this down into social terms that can not be ignored:

It is the primary responsibility, of the Board of Education and the school your child attends, to provide a [safe] environment in which your child can learn.

Though they play to the political aspects of the bulling issue, it’s worth repeating: their primary responsibility is to make sure that your child and every other child that attends the school, does so in an environment; free of potential harm.

If they know that a child is reeking, emotional and physical, persecution on the other students, they have an obligation to remove that student from the school. Either until such time as his parents has sought the proper help, to eliminate his threat to the safe environment of the school, or for a more prolonged period of time.

So how do your force the school to create a safe environment when they would rather play politics.

First arrange a meeting with the principle of the school and find out if they are aware of the bulling situation, if not, make them aware and give them time to handle it.

If the problem continues, arrange a meeting between: you, the principle of the school, and the parents of the person doing the bulling.

Make sure that everyone at the meeting understands that if the bulling does not stop, you will take legal measure to insure your child’s safety.

Once the meeting is over draft and mail by certified mail a letter outlining what was discussed at the meeting, and reiterating, you’re warning of, decisive action if the situation does not improve.

To the parents of the child doing the bulling, draft a separate letter letting them know that any future attacks against your, child will result in your signing a citizen’s complaint in juvenile court against their child.

Do not attempt to confront them person to person as the situation may get our of hand and lead to violence, most parents choose to be in denial about their child’s short comings and will defend to the death their child’s right to engage in unacceptable social behavior.

What if you can’t afford an attorney, then as your child legal guardian, [you may want to] file a Pro Se, action against the school, the board of education and the principle of the school, naming each of them separately, as defendants.

If you have to take time off from work to pursue a remedy to your child’s dilemma. then that would constitute compensatory damages, that, plus the amount of gas you had to use to get back and forth to the meetings. This amount may not add up to more that a few hundred dollars. And they may dismiss the threat as insignificant.

But a law suit, asking for $3,000,000., in punitive damages for pain and suffering will definitely get their attention and overcome the fear of loosing the $168,000., federal money the will lose by expelling the bully.

Since [I am not an attorney] I can not offer you any legal advice but I can refer you to http://www.jurisdictionary.com?refercode=PR0001 for the help you may need to mount a legal defense of your child’s right to be safe in his or her school environment.