Last year we kept telling kiddo not to get upset in school to stop crying if at all possible and try to find another way to deal with how other kids were treating him. That if he didnt stop he was going to become a target.
He never did get a handle on that. But in the beginning of the year things seemed to be ok. He had a few instances that no one really made a big deal over, and then he seemed to be able to handle things without crying, or at least finding a way to do it when no one was paying any attention.
Still, I was worried. We have had many verbal incidents.
There is one kid who was in his class at his elementary class that they did not get along at all. He is in one of his classes in middle and he flat out said to kiddo, "You know no one likes you, right?! No one likes you." Kiddos teacher immediately said that's not true! I like him! and a few other kids took up for him.
Several boys have called him a bitch in gym. And another kid told him he was "Fucking ugly".
Yesterday as he was going to his 8th period class 3 8th grade boys walked up to him in the 6th grade hallway and one of them punched him in the chest with his thumb or other object out and poked him hard in his chest. He said it hurt pretty bad. The other boys laughed at him. When he told me this my heart sank. This is the first time someone actually walked up and physically touched him, and we arent even halfway through the year. The school is so big to say they don't tolerate bullying and yet here is some kid putting his hands on my kid. It was very hard for me NOT to go off. And keep my anger inside and try to handle the situation like an adult. Kiddo did not know these kids. Never seen them before.
Husband emailed the Vice Principal and asked if they have video footage, and if they can figure out and discipline. First of all what are 8th grade boys doing in the 6th grade hallway? When they did orientation with us they told us they had 6th graders isolated in that one wing for the most part so they didn't have to worry about getting too mixed up with the older kids. I see that doesn't stop the older boys from coming over and looking for trouble. I have also heard horror stories on the neighborhood app of the administration not really doing anything about bullying at this particular school. We will see if we get any response.
I know everyone gets picked on sometime in their life, I understand that its a part of growing up and learning. We do try to explain to kiddo that while its not right, it does happen and we have to learn to rise above it.
I am still very angry this morning about this. Very impatiently waiting to see if we get any response. Kiddo respects himself and others enough not to behave that way. I don't understand why other kids aren't taught the same thing.
Maybe its time to think about Karate again. =\
