I don't have cable and my son is just now starting school but my school days are a remeberance of bullies.  I had one group of girls from the time I was in kindergarten to 6 grade that totured me about everything. My mom never bought me expensive clothes or shoe, so they said I was poor. ( my parents make plenty) Then the main mean girl came to my high school. She got to me so bad that I actually was going to quit. She left in 10th grade and after that school was great. I pray that my son's school days are better then mine were. He is little and skinny so I'm sure it is just a matter of time before he comes home crying. But unlike my parents, I will be at that school talking to the teacher.

zachysmommy04 May. 6, 2009 at 8:06 PM

I did not see the show but I have had to deal with my son being bullied in public school. I fought with the school for years about the treatment of my son by the other kids & they never tried to stop it. I got fed up 3 years ago & removed him from the school to home school him & now he is more comfortable with himself then he ever was before. I was very afraid that if I didn't remove him that he would either take his own life or take someone else & I couldn't just let that happen so I did what I thought was the best & I wish I had done it when the bulling started rather then waiting all those years that he suffered threw it.

usmom3 May. 6, 2009 at 8:10 PM

I dealt with bullies in school. DS is very high strung and easily upset. I've been working with all the kids, but especially him and dniece on bully proofing themselves. How to respond, how not to let others control you. I tell ds that when he gets upset he has given someone a remote to his brain, and to take out the batteries. Schools and parents need to focus on teaching children how not to be bullied, instead of just teaching them to go tell an adult.IMO.

southernwldchld May. 6, 2009 at 8:40 PM

One important point that was made is that parents should not tell their children to ignore it. That does not work.

LizQu May. 6, 2009 at 9:00 PM

I try telling my kids about how I dealt with bullies when I was in school. Mostly high school. I never let anyone intimidate me. There is a way one has to carry oneself inorder to get a bully of your back. But there comes a point where an adult has to be told. In one case, for myself, I was being sexually harrassed by a boy. I told the dean and  he was expelled.
My daughter told me a boy was calling her names. I think maybe he likes her but she is not mature enough right now to be into boys. She has this big loud voice she uses and has clearly told him she won't be bothered by him infront of others. A bully does not like to be embarrased and so this particular boy has been quiet for a while. Maybe he'll start up again, maybe not.
I've had experiences where the bully will simply not stop. I'm grateful things never got violent. As for me I told this one girl on graduation day from high school in front of her 'posse'... "I hope you learn to grow up in college. " and left her standing with her mouth open. I later learned she wasn't going to college. I think back now and feel sorry for her. She didn't have real friends. Another girl who bothered me from day one when I met her (and eventually stopped after meeting my mom) but she'd give me looks that could kill... well she was trampled to death at a basketball game the year after graduation. Very sad but she was a very mean girl ... dare I say karma? It was all very sad.

saltycoqui May. 6, 2009 at 9:11 PM

Same thing happened in my family 10 years ago. Sad that 10 years later and nothing has changed. I lost a great brother and friend because of some really stupid TEACHERS!! That's right the teachers were bullying him. And calling him names everyday, sadly It went deeper then that!

mom2cuties0406 May. 6, 2009 at 9:29 PM

30 years later and finally someone is doing something about the torture chamber I called school so many years ago.  I cant count the amount of clothing that was ruined or the amount of bruising, or blood I lost or simply mental abuse I took at the hands of the other kids.  everyday they found new and interesting ways to torture me.  I have had anything that wasnt bolted down thrown at me, was even suspended from school because I got mad after 10 frisbees were thrown at my head and was bleeding the assaulters got nothing more then a talkin too.  I recieved death threats and was asked to leave school for a few days while the bullies were spoken too, I was forced to change schools in fear for my life only to find friends of the bullies who had heard all about me...I finally quit school altogether to save my sanity.  bullies and the teachers as well as school administrations should be held fully accountable by law and punished to the full extent for thier ignorance and allowing the abuse to happen.

StarrAngel May. 6, 2009 at 9:48 PM

I was bullied emotional in school. I had bad acne and grow up in a rich town. The children told me I was dirty and nasty and called me pizza face. I worked at a  nursing home and was even bullied there by the boss he called my peperoni. I went on the take accutance and strong acne medince and still to this day 15 years later those words run through my head.

But about my children my 8 yr old wear glasses and can be annoying, Yeah I admit it!.. But when he was just 5 years old in kidergarten a child held his glasses out the bus window and called him gay. This child was 6!!. I told my son to punch him if he does it again.. well the next day my son got off the bus all smiles.. he hit that kid.. I didn't punsih him, I was pround. Needless to say they never bothered him on the bus again.

Then in 1 grade at a new school he got pushed the first day, he turned around hit the child, pushed him in the locker and pretty much told him not to mess with him again.. I got a call from the pricpal and I once again didn't punsih him.. SELF DEFENCE

Then this year in 2 grade he told me the popular kids were going to beat him up at recess, I haven't heard anymore about that.. Thank god..

BULLYING STARTS way to early these days. Teach your children to stick up for themselfs.

three-for-now May. 6, 2009 at 9:53 PM

If you allow a bully to bully you by not doing anything, walking away,or whaever the bully will only continue to do bully you, because you have become an easy target for them, the first step is to never let the bully get away with doing it, teach your kids to hit back or talk back only in these situations. If the bully see's that you arent a pushover, he/she will leave you alone

kandy800 May. 6, 2009 at 9:55 PM

A key phrase I picked up from the episode today is "toxic school environment". Its ironic that I just decided, a week ago, to pull my son out of public school and to homeschool. I guess I have just had it. This shit just isn't good enough for our children , and I'm not waiting any longer (at tortise rate) for anything to change.

nikonme May. 6, 2009 at 11:18 PM