Think the law protects our children from bullying? Think again.
by thenotebook on Oct 29 2013 Posted in Commentary
by David J. Berney and Kevin Golembiewski
It began in 6th grade. A girl we'll call “Meghan” was called “bitch,” “faggot,” and “it” nearly every day at school. At lunch, Meghan’s peers pulled and spit in her hair. In the hallway, students punched and pushed Meghan as she made her way to her next class. In 7th grade, during gym class, a student put a trashcan over Meghan’s head. When Meghan removed the trashcan, a group of students knocked her down then punched and kicked her. School officials were repeatedly notified about incidents like this. Nonetheless, Meghan suffered through these physical and verbal assaults until she dis-enrolled from Philadelphia public schools this past year.
For "Dante," it started in 3rd grade. Dante has a visual impairment and peers targeted him because of his disability. He was called “dumbass,” “retard,” and “bitch.” On a good day, classmates would take Dante’s things and taunt him. On bad days, which were frequent, Dante was attacked by groups of students in the hallways and restrooms. In 4th grade, Dante’s sister found him attempting to hang himself with an extension cord in the family home. Dante survived, but bullies continued to harass him until he left the Philadelphia School District.
Meghan and Dante’s stories are far from unique in Philadelphia or nationwide