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This story is particularly personal for me. I normally give my wife anything she wants, but this time I said no. I know it is selfish for it to be my first thought, but I am so glad I did not send my boy there.
I can empathise both with the alleged perpetrator and victim. 12 and 13 year olds are not adults and will make stupid decisions like pushing the "nerd" beyond reasonable limits or taking a knife to school for protection. Yes there is some blame but a child cannot be held 100% responsible for actions that are allowed through outright permission or through inaction.
What is so intolerable for me is that this occured 15 minutes before school starts on school grounds, it is not a few hours outside school time, it is not in a park or a place where the school has no control, it is a place where the school should have had total control. This control can onlty be manifested through a school culture of fairness upheld by students and staff.
It is not 1972 anymore and people shiould be more aware of the serious effect bullying can have on someone's entire life. Those that copped it would never subject their children to it. I am hearing from work colleagues "I was bullied at school but it did not bother me". I hate this comment - anyone who says that was NOT bullied. It is NOT "just a part of growing up" it is serious abuse on par with any other form of abuse.
There are utter feelings of helplessness, isolation and bowel loosening fear combined with the knowlege that saying something would only make it worse.
In my case it spilled into rage where I threw the ringleader down two flights of stairs. I was counselled and suspended with the "victim" being consoled about the horrible psycho who attacked him for no reason.
Luckily my boy got my wife's charisma, looks and sportiness and is a cool kid, so he is spared the potential meatgrinder school can become for the different.
Sorry for the rant, just needed to vent a little after overhearing a lot of thoughtlessness today...
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