School Bus Bullies, Part 2

on March 3, 2009 at 4:15 PM

school bus, bullies As part of my job here at CafeMom, I try to pay close attention to what moms of big kids are talking about. We love to talk relationship stuff, teenage drama, kindergarten questions and lots of other things, but one issue I see pop up too much for comfort is the issue of school bus bullies. I see it so much I'm writing about it again.

Lots of moms around here bear witness to this troubling trend, so if your child is experiencing this, you are not alone...

bookworm65 says, "I've dealt with bullying on the bus with all 3 of my children. I went to the principal & when it was not taken care of in the proper manner I decided to just drive my kids to & from school everyday. I also got a p/t job as a Noon Duty at their school as well as volunteering in all 3 of their classrooms. It helped put an end to it."

leelee107 says, "Well actually my sister has dealt with this on the bus with her oldest. A older boy kept grabbing her sons ears and pulling them. My sister finally told the bus driver if you don't move my son or the other kid I am going to start riding the bus to make sure my son is safe. Then she went to the school superintendent."

nolika625 says, "Yes in my area it's common. If you are concerned, make a point to speak with the bus driver. If something happens and the bus driver shrugs it off go to the school. My niece had a bully problem and no one would do anything about it until my sister actually talked to the child's parents, and when that didn't work--she told my niece to handle it herself. Sometimes where they live (in the middle of nowhere land) that's the only way something gets resolved. We don't support fighting at all but if it comes to it then it comes to it.

What's the deal with this school bus bullying thing? Is this a social epidemic? How have you handled this problem?

Filed Under: bullies, friends

Comments (6)

momioftwinz

on Mar 3, 2009 at 9:04 PM

When I was young, I was the victim of school bus bullies. Eventually, they were kicked off of the bus but it took a lot of work on my mom's part to make sure they were not on there again. It also didn't help that at the time, they had high schoolers and elementary kids take the same bus so I was in 3rd grade and my bully was a junior in high school. No parent should ever allow their child to be bullied as a way to "grow up" but should take their childs concerns seriously.

Report this comment

pixxydust

on Mar 3, 2009 at 9:28 PM

first time I told the bus driver, and when it happened again I told the principal. I also told the principle that if it happened again I would press charges on the child and the adult that wuz on the bus. Yes you can do that in Oklahoma. Since then we have not had a problem with my youngest. But yesterday my oldest got off the bus she is 9 and told me a kid called her a black hobo. Well this time I just talked to the principal on the phone. and so far so good.

islandwalker

on Mar 3, 2009 at 10:27 PM

My son was bullied constantly from all angles, cuz he was the smallest little guy in his class...but it was the older ones who bullied. He didn't want me to 'do anything' cuz it would only make it worse. Finally, when his ears were flicked one too many times (he was very patient), he turned around and grabbed the big kid's earmuffs and broke them and told him to leave him alone. I guess the look in his eyes said he meant it, cuz he wasn't ever bothered again....BUT the bully's mom insisted I replace the earmuffs...so my son went in the house and got his own and gave them to me to give the kid. He would rather just 'deal with it' this way, than make a big deal out of it.) It turns out, that even tho there is supposedly a 0 tolerance on bulllying, they tolerate damaged property even less. So what if a kids' emotional state is damaged...a $1.50 set of earmuffs are more important. This was17 years ago. My son is now 23, and very sensitive to the 'underdog', so there are positive things way later...but at the time, it is so maddening. Trips to t he school back then accomplished nothing, except he got to eat lunch with the principal, which he thought was really cool. It made him feel special, cuz the principal was 'cool'. Ah well. We survived. Good luck to you all in the midst of it NOW

irishstarz

on Mar 4, 2009 at 12:46 AM

I was a victim from 3rd grade till 8th. Kids suck, plain and simple. I will drive my Son to and from school as long as my schedule allows it. It's bad enough He'll be around that crap at school itself. No thanks to the parents that raise such monsters!

psychoswife

on Mar 4, 2009 at 1:12 AM

I've went to the school repeatedly, spoke with the super,the bus driver, and the police. None of them really did anything. The cops spoke with his mother, so did I, it did no good. The principal told my son in front of me that if he fought back he would be arrested and suspended. I blew a head gasket of course. One boy inparticular decided he didn't like my son and of course his friends had to join in. They got him on the bus, got him in the bathrooms at school, the park, and once jumped him in my own front yard, 8 on 1. Finally bully boy caught my son in the bathroom at school, alone and my son beat the crap out of him, got suspended. The bulling stopped.

Gemaof4

on May 8, 2010 at 4:49 AM

There are all these anti bulling laws but, I believe they and the school supports and protects the bullies not the victims. If the parents and schools would put an end to the bulling when it starts then there would not be an issue. Not to the extent that there is today. I have volunteered in the class room and spend most of my time stopping these kids. No wonder the teachers have given up. The parents should teach their heathens better and if the kids don't stop then the parents should be punished too.