So my son got suspended

[morethananyonex]

If this was anywhere other then a school where kids are coddled and bullies are handled correctly instead of tip-toed around I highly doubt it would have been allowed to continue for this long, the punch would never have been an issue at all. If this was in a workplace it would be labeled harassment, especially with it continuing outside of school.

Clearly talking doesn't work with this kid, hopefully a punch in the mouth will. Oh and, taking bets on how long it takes for someone to suggest the poor bully has a hidden issue OPs family is not aware of and should be more sensitive to.

 

[RunningGirl]

Not a violent person at all, but I don't have a problem with it. The school failed to handle it initially and let it escalate to this point. Unfortunately, since you indicate this happened with another kid previously, the bully will probably just move on to a meeker victim.

 

[ICF]

Props to your son

 

[Jeniferdwn]

Way to go Kid, for standing up for yourself and not letting the other kid continue to bully you. I've told my kids the same thing my mom told us.....Don't start it, but don't let them walk all over you. It's sad, but thats the way it has to be sometimes!

 

[mickeyboat]

I hope this puts an end to this bully's behavior towards your son.

My DH would have had the same reaction you did. But I am not so sure. I would be concerned that if it doesn't put an end to it, your son's reaction would give him more reason to escalate the bullying in order to get a rise out of your son again (and to get him suspended again, which I am sure the bully would get some satisfaction from).

I would continue to keep a close eye on the situation, and continue to address the bullying issue with the school, and if necessary, with the police.

 

[shortbun]

Hey, I'm a pacifist and worked to keep my kid from being violent. When he punched a boy who had been bullying him for 1/2 the year I silently applauded. While I would not reward my son, I'd tell him that I hoped that would be the end of the boy bothering him and no punishment would happen, in fact, we might go get ice cream to soothe his frustration and assure him that we understood how he felt.

 

[tink1969]

The vice principle would not say if the other kid got any punishment. I sure we will find out though.

This kid would call our house 8x a day and harrass our son asking for answers for homework and such. I would call the house but NEVER could get a parent. The school did not try to even get a message to them either when I explained the issues with the kid.

They did move the seating assignment for lunch this semester after we complained but that was it.

Regarding it getting physical, I don't have an issue with it. Makes me a bad Dad I guess but I can live with that. This has gone on for months and I won't have my son be walked all over when the school was not helping.

I'm with you. There is only so much a person can take and hopefully the 'bully' gets the message. I can't believe that a 7th grader thinks it's okay to use a marker on your son's shirt. What's up with that?

My DD9 has been bullied for two years and I fully support her if she has to defend herself physically!

 

[mamacatnv]

So did the other boy get a suspension as well? I would think/hope so as it is very apparent he did wrong by writing on the shirt....not like your son can write on his own back!

The bully had it coming. Maybe he'll think twice about pushing your kid around.

I'd take it a step further and let my kid skip school the day of the "in school suspension" he doesn't deserve the humilitation of the punishment, I'd keep him home.

 

[Suzanne033]

I have always taught my 11yo DD that she is NEVER allowed to take the first punch in a fight but she has my permission to take the second (which I showed her how to make the last). I also told her that there would never be any reprecussion at home as long as she was simply defending herself.

It sounds to me like the bully in this situation "took the first punch" by stalking your kid and writing on his back.

Reminds me of a video I saw on "The Today Show" last week where a bully jumped another student and the victim slammed the bully to the ground.

GOOD FOR HIM and GOOD FOR YOUR SON!!!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I say the OPs kid did good, except he should have waited until he was off school property to deck the aggressor. That's what the suspension is for, though.

 

[ccgirl]

I'm always amazed at the parents that support physical violence. The only time I would ever condone one of my children and their physical violence is if they were hit first. The other fact is that writing on someone's shirt is not against the law while laying your hands on someone is. What should be done? Turn the other cheek and take the high road. I'm sure not everyone agrees with that either.

If he is continually calling the house and you have already tried to get the school and parents involved, I would go to the police and ask the harrassment be stopped. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

IDK...I guess we just don't see eye to eye on this one.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I'm always amazed at the parents that support physical violence. The only time I would ever condone one of my children and their physical violence is if they were hit first. The other fact is that writing on someone's shirt is not against the law while laying your hands on someone is. What should be done? Turn the other cheek and take the high road. I'm sure not everyone agrees with that either. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

IDK...I guess we just don't see eye to eye on this one.

Writing on someone is certainly against the law.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

The other fact is that writing on someone's shirt is not against the law while laying your hands on someone is. What should be done?

Assuming the shirt is not on the kid when the writing occurs it is destruction of property. If it is on the kid when the writing occurs, it constitutes an unwanted touching which, in the eyes of the law, is assault just as much as a sock in the eye is.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Assuming the shirt is not on the kid when the writing occurs it is destruction of property. If it is on the kid when the writing occurs, it constitutes an unwanted touching which, in the eyes of the law, is assault just as much as a sock in the eye is.

Actually, it's battery. But yeah, you've got the idea.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Actually, it's battery. But yeah, you've got the idea.

Dear lord, you're right. It's been too long since the bar.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I have always taught my 11yo DD that she is NEVER allowed to take the first punch in a fight but she has my permission to take the second (which I showed her how to make the last). I also told her that there would never be any reprecussion at home as long as she was simply defending herself.

It sounds to me like the bully in this situation "took the first punch" by stalking your kid and writing on his back.

Reminds me of a video I saw on "The Today Show" last week where a bully jumped another student and the victim slammed the bully to the ground.

GOOD FOR HIM and GOOD FOR YOUR SON!!!

Couldn't agree more. The bully took what appears to be several "punches" to this kid. The kid threw the next one...and made him bleed.

I hope it was a lesson to the bully. If not, then maybe your son can ask the teacher the next time it happens "you gonna handle this or do I punch him in the face again".

 

[npcougar]

Actually, it's battery. But yeah, you've got the idea.

So if this kind of thing had been happening, shouldn't the OP have gone to the police to press charges or file a suit for damages rather than advocate violence? I think I would have had a lawyer send a nice letter telling the school they better resolve the situation or face a suit.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I'm actually not in favor of violence if and when it can be avoided. However, I'm totally on your side, OP. I think that you and your son went through the proper channels to try and resolve it peacefully, and were not successful. There comes a time when you've done all you can do, and it's just not good enough. When the school failed to step and and do something about the bullying, your son had no choice but to take it into his own hands. Good for him!

 

[Clifton]

Reminds me of Friday when Craig took on neighborhood bully Deebo and how his dad Mr. Jones tought him to be a man.

"You win some, you lose some. But you live, you live to fight another day."

 

[GeorgeG]

Most schools have pretty strict rules against hitting, etc.. Many willl go right to expulsion, so I'm thinking this school is going light given the circumstances. Waaayyy back in my day, these issues would be settled under the supervision of the phyical education teacher by duking it out with boxing gloves. That was another lifetime, it seems. to this kid from GeorgeG.