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My 12 yr old son was beaten up today in the boys locker room in a county school. A boy shoved him as hard as he could into the lockers. Then he was pinned down while the bully punched him in the face 3 times. My son now has a huge knot and bruise on his left cheek. 1 month ago,in the locker room, somebody pushed him and he tripped over the bench, hitting his head on the lockers causing him to need 2 staples. We also have had to buy 5 new locks for his gym locker because sombody kept breaking them.

The bully has been punished with in school suspension. Which I find ridiculous because he still gets credit for his work. Big whoop!! I informed the principal that I expected adult supervision in the locker room for here on out. I was told that wouldn't be possible since the adult could be in a situation of getting accused of something inappropiate. So I told him to put 2 adults in there. He stated he didn't have enough staff for that to happen. They want to protect their own asses but not protect my sons. Its apparant that the kids know that they can get away with more unsupervised. I am absolutely flabbergasted. Oh, and by the way, nobody from the school called us about it. I know that my emotions are high right now, but if the brat does it again, I'll make sure he leaves the school in handcuffs.

Roll Eyes
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In my opinion you should have already called the county sheriff. We have stifled our educators' ability to discipline and so many parents have shirked their responsibility of raising their children. It is a combination that is bound to end with problems. It is in both private and public schools.

Now I don't want to excuse the school system. I will say that what you get in a school system in Alabama is what the public wants. The public votes for the board and the superintendent in most counties. If you want something better you can have it. Use your energy at the next election helping a good candidate rather than wasting it on anger. In the meantime remind the county that they work for YOU and have the sheriff do his job.

I do hope your son is OK. The last thing we want to happen is have a 12 year old lose the desire for education. It breaks my heart to hear your story. I wish you luck.
If you son was assaulted you should inform the police. If they are willing to do nothing inform the news stations/papers. Did you son inform the school of the actions that took place? Document each time you speak with a school official. If you have to place a small tape recorder in your pocket to be able to prove the conversation. Send them certified, notarized letters. Cover all of your basis because it seems as if you have an up hill battle on your hands. These are legal way to handle the situation.

The street way to handle it is to have your son place one of the broken locks in a sock. The next time the two are alone in the locker room, he should swing it and let the laws of physics take it natural course. Remember it will be your sons words against the bully. It is not what really happened, but rather what can be proved!!!
Not only call the sherriff but also the district attorney and you might even consider contacting a private attorney of your own. And I'd love it if you would name the school and get other parents involved. If these two are treating your child like this I'm sure there are others. If the school is known then parents can talk to their kids about it and other parents can call the school to complain on your behalf. The school has done little to control the situtation so you owe them nothing in the way of privacy. How far are you willing to let it escalate until you go public?
I say lock in the sock technique!!

I promise a conversation with the lock in the sock will make this bully think twice before picking one someone else. Sometimes you have to face a bully in the only language they understand.

Great suggestion! Let this be an educational experience for him; teach him to stand up for himself. "Lock-in-sock" means literally put a metal lock in a sock and beat the H### out of this bully.
"I promise a conversation with the lock in the sock will make this bully think twice before picking one someone else. Sometimes you have to face a bully in the only language they understand."

Unless they dodge the sock and take it away from him and use it themselves, or he cathces one of them in the temple, causes a concussion and they die, then where will your son end up?

Call the sherriff, let them show up at the school asking questions and arrest the two for assualt. Make a threat of a law suit against the school system and the principal and go through with it. When those two kids parents have to go and bail their kids out of jail and hire a lawyer for their trial and the principal sees his retirement check going to you to settle your claim that he provided too little protection for your kid you may see a lot more action.
You need to follow up with the principal and possibly the superintendent. Bullying is such a buzzword in education right now that I can't believe the principal didn't react more strongly. Do not tell your child about the lock in the sock technique--if your child is smaller, things might not go as planned, and then he would be the one getting the lock up side the head. P.E. is a horrible situation in most schools due to the abyssmal student-teacher ratio. I know where I taught, there were like 80 kids for 1 PE teacher. That is just a disaster waiting to happen.
quote:
Originally posted by im4uhonee:
"I promise a conversation with the lock in the sock will make this bully think twice before picking one someone else. Sometimes you have to face a bully in the only language they understand."

Unless they dodge the sock and take it away from him and use it themselves, or he cathces one of them in the temple, causes a concussion and they die, then where will your son end up?

Call the sherriff, let them show up at the school asking questions and arrest the two for assualt. Make a threat of a law suit against the school system and the principal and go through with it. When those two kids parents have to go and bail their kids out of jail and hire a lawyer for their trial and the principal sees his retirement check going to you to settle your claim that he provided too little protection for your kid you may see a lot more action.
And what if the bully goes to far next time and leaves this boy in a coma. Again sometimes one has to stand up to these punks. Every person has the right to self defense.
Hi kimberleehel!

You and your family (and son) have my heartfelt sympathies.

On one hand, the natural part of me says beat the #(*&$ out of the offender.

On the other, the rational part says, 'naw, that won't do it.'

Your anger is understandable.

Here's where I stomp on toes.

Get an attorney and SUE THE CRAP OUTTA' the
1.) Principal,
2.) Vice Principal,
3.) Superintendent of Schools,
4.) teacher, and
5.) the offending child's parents.

Everybody hates Attorneys... until they need one.

It wouldn't be difficult to do.

But, you gotta' find an attorney with steel balls. Somebody that doesn't give a sh*t whether somebody likes them or not.

From my perspective, and based upon what you wrote, it's very clear that your child was
1.) abused (can you say "child abuse"?),
2.) subjected to assault and battery,
3.) neglected, and that
4.) the teachers and school authorities were negligent in their responsibility and trust and duty to protect, maintain decorum, and an environment suitable for learning.

The schild's parents are responsible for the child's behavior, and should also be sued.

In my opinion, handcuffs is the right way to go.

But... give fair warning. Tell 'em what you'll do... after you find an attorney. Maybe the attorney will write a "courtesy" letter and scare the crap outta' 'em.

Also, consider calling CPS (Child Protective Services) and see what they think.

Neither you, nor your child, nor any other child should be subjected to such.

It's HIGH TIME law-abiding citizens took back what is rightfully theirs.

Oh... and send the bill for the treatments to the parents and the school along with a note, and see what they say.

You and your child have DEFINITELY suffered damages.

SUE.

SUE.

SUE.

Unfortunately, that's the ONLY way to get their attention.

A late note: You didn't say whether or not you're a single mom. But nevertheless, tell your son it's OKAY to FIGHT BACK to defend himself. He's a man... or will be one in less than a year.

Real men fight back, and don't back down in the face of injustice.
Last edited by Shoals Lover
My grandson had the same problem at school ,his pants was ripped off him . The Principal was told , and coach, and it was more or less laughed off .
I dont like the lock in sock thing ,that only breads more fighting .

Call the law on them . Wish I knew which school it was ,as my grandson is in a county school also.

Kids have always fought at school , but it was after school and not inside the school !!!

Now on another note , the school bus driver where I live has been running in my yard and my neighbors yard , messing it up good ,7 feet over in my yard and 30 feet long , is nothing but mud now , I called the school Principal first ,no luck ,only broken promises , then I called the school barn and spoke to the bus superintendent ,no luck still , I called the law and the school was at my home within an hour and said they will plant grass ,plant trees or lay blocks or whatever I wanted and they stopped that driver from coming in our neighborhood . ONE CALL ,THATS ALL . lol
Seems they dont want the law called on them . Try that .Good luck , I hate bullies .
If the same kid has done this more than once then it is grounds for alternative school. Maybe you should go to the school board to remedy this problem.
Alternative schooling is a true deterrent to this kind of stuff. My son had to go to it for doing similar stuff and it has made a big difference in his behavior. If alternative school does not change things then it is time to get the parents involved, maybe the threat of a lawsuit will make them get involved?
I still wish you would name the school, I'm sure your child isn't the only one getting picked on by these two and if parents who have kids there knew they could ask their child if it's happening to them also. I ask my daughter if she knew of a fight at her school (Central) in the boys locker room and she didn't. Kids all talk with each other about this stuff but almost never tell ther parents. Please let us know which school it is.
Thanks for the concern for our child's safety. We have always told our son that if he ever threw the first punch he would be severly punished at home. However, if he was hit first, to beat the crap out of the kid. We asked why he didn't hit the kid back and he replied he did swing, but missed him. After he was punched 3 times on the ground he said he was so shaken up he just wanted away from the kid.[COLOR:RED]My husband last night showed him again how to block punches and throw punches. We did take pictures of his cheek after school, and today it looks much better.[/color]

The principal stated that he didn't know of any problems going on in the locker room until he was told about it. Now that he knows that there is a problem, he promised it wouldn't happen again. I'm not sure how he is going to do that, but he better figure it how fast. On Monday he will be informed that if any other inapproriate activities concerning our son that it will be handled through the proper legal channels.
Last edited by kimberleehel
I had a similar problem with my child. I went to the principal and told him face to face that I would hold him personally responsible for my child's safety and well being. This is very important because the child is not allowed to fight back. If your child just tries to defend himself he can actually be expelled from school, while the attacker usually will serve ISS. Educators as a whole (not all of them) have lost any sense of reality, and do not want to accept responsibility for assaults and attacks in their schools. It is your responsibility to let them know that you will not let them get away with it. I would wear them out with phone calls, visits, and letters. Nothing is more important than the safety of your child.
The child should have already been expelled for the second fight. If I understood your first post correctly this was the same child that caused your child to get staples in his head once already and now he has bruises. He should have been expelled this time. Be at the school Monday morning...do not call BE THERE. This is coming from a teacher. This child should not be in school beating up your child or any other child until after Christmas. If you don't get anywhere with the principal Monday morning go STRAIGHT to the county office and if nothing is resolved there go STRAIGHT to the police station and swear out a warrant for the student.
quote:
Originally posted by b67:
The child should have already been expelled for the second fight. If I understood your first post correctly this was the same child that caused your child to get staples in his head once already and now he has bruises. He should have been expelled this time. Be at the school Monday morning...do not call BE THERE. This is coming from a teacher. This child should not be in school beating up your child or any other child until after Christmas. If you don't get anywhere with the principal Monday morning go STRAIGHT to the county office and if nothing is resolved there go STRAIGHT to the police station and swear out a warrant for the student.


No there are 2 different bullies. I assume they're best friends. One hurt him by making him cut his head and the other one threw the punches.

Since you mentioned that you are also a teacher, how does your school handle the gym lockers? Are adults allowed in there while kids are changing for PE? And if not, how many fights happen?
I am a teacher but in lower elementary but I do know we have had students placed in ISS for fighting the first time (and out of school suspension the first time..depends on severity) and second time almost always results in Out of School suspension. Fighting is always treated seriously even in the elementary. A few years ago I had one that kept picking on another child and misbehaving to such a degree that he was disrupting my other's students' learning that I finally asked the principal what this child was going to have to do to be sent home for the day and he said he just did it. Remember this was a lower elememtary child we are talking about but it got our point across to him and his parents...that we had done all we could do it was time for them to give us some help. Please be at the school Monday. It doesn't matter if it is the school where I teach or any other. No child should have to put up with being bullied by another child. Do what you have to do to stop it. Your child might be mad at you for a while for interferring but he will get over it and will understand in the end. This child has to be stopped. As for our lockers in the gym area at our school I wouldn't know since I'm in the elementary but I am in a K-12 school and I usually hear about fights from older students. Don't hear about any...hear about scuffles in the hall every now in then but haven't heard about locker activity.
I highly suggest that you contact Superintendant Valentine. Since he is now elected and the chosen one it is time he showed that his students matter more than his bottom line and that he hold to that "no more money on lawsuits" ideal by making sure the kids are supervised appropriately...I'm sure he will find a way to get the money to cover those things since it won't be spent on lawsuits.

BTW -- I like the lock in a sock technique -- you might also check into the legality of pepper spray on school grounds...might do that bully a good one to get a dose of that...also, I'd go so far as to put surveillance equipment in my kids backpack to get it all on tape and then take it to the DA and let him do what the principal can't do anymore -- guarantee discipline for the offender and justice for the victim...

Of course, all of that cost could be saved it the principal would properly staff the schools and then the staff do their job and not hang out in the hallways flirting with the cheerleaders or hanging out in their cars smoking ...
Well, I called the principal today to get an appointment with him tomorrow. (Couldn't get off work today..) After I once again told him that ISS wasn't a punishment, he stated that some people would disagree with me. 1st offense is ISS. Some parents think it's too strict and others not strict enough. But it is what it is.

Here's my gameplan. Tomorrow I will inform the principal that if the brat assaults my son one more time, he's off to jail. Then, I'm going to the Superintendent to fill them in on what has been happening, and ask if they can come up with a solution for posting an adult or adults in the locker room. If they won't work with me, I will calmly state that if my son's assaulted one more time, they, plus the principal, will be sued for negligence. The ball will be in their court, lets see if they are really working to keep our children safe.
Last edited by kimberleehel
"Good deal.The only way these administrators will get the idea is if their career is on the line."

Unfortunally, with Alabama tenure laws it's very hard to put their careers on the line, you can however put their future income on the line with a judgement against them in a law suit. The princial will not care if you sue the school system so you have to name HIM personally.

Tomorrow, expect him to take the offensive, he will try to make you feel like your an idiot and will side with the bullies right to an education. I went to my sons school on several occasions to complain about not being notified of him goofing off and not doing his assignemnts while in middle school, I didn't find out he was failing until I got his report card. The first meeting was with the principal and his teacher, who informed me the problem was him sleeping in class and not doing in-class assignments. I went through the roof! How can I control what my kid does IN the classroom? That's why we pay taxes that pays the teacher. Then next time I went in I went with the attitude that I was their boss and they were my employee, took them completely by surprise and I got better results.

When you go in tomorrow remember, they are YOUR employees and they work FOR you. Let them know not doing their job will not be tolerated.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by DixieChik:
I highly suggest that you contact Superintendant Valentine. Since he is now elected and the chosen one it is time he showed that his students matter more than his bottom line and that he hold to that "no more money on lawsuits" ideal by making sure the kids are supervised appropriately...I'm sure he will find a way to get the money to cover those things since it won't be spent on lawsuits.

BTW -- I like the lock in a sock technique -- you might also check into the legality of pepper spray on school grounds...might do that bully a good one to get a dose of that...also, I'd go so far as to put surveillance equipment in my kids backpack to get it all on tape and then take it to the DA and let him do what the principal can't do anymore -- guarantee discipline for the offender and justice for the victim...
Pepper spray will get your son jail time. Do not try it!!! Unfortunately according to school policy and state law, you son has no right what so ever to defend himself. I can promise you pepper spray or lock in sock will get your son jail time while the bully goes free.
When you meet with the principal, try not to be defensive and combative. Approach this like a business meeting and conduct yourself like a mature adult. If you feel like you are being dismissed, simply state that you are going to the superintendent, and that you hope he will take your case more seriously. The point is, you want the principal to see things your way, and the best way to do this is to present your case in a calm, cool manner--not too emotionally.

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