Sigh. I don't know about you, but I'm still not over the horrible video of that bullied bus monitor (even if people did donate a bunch of cash to make up for it). So I really wasn't ready for this new horrible video of a bullied 10-year-old boy on the bus. A 10-year-old special needs boy named Cequan Haskins, that is, whose 15-year-old bullies called him racial and sexual slurs, trapped him in his seat, and burned him with a cigarette lighter for 40 minutes.
Cequan's screams are the worst part. (Much like the bus monitor video, I couldn't watch this whole thing either.)
This horrible event actually took place over a year ago, in May 2011. But Cequan's mom, Roxanne Haskins, just released the video last week at a press conference because, she says, she wanted people to know what bullying really looks like.
"I wanted parents to be aware, that when I speak out, I'm speaking out for all kids. But unfortunately, this did happen to my child, and I want parents to be aware of what's going on in the school system."
As a parent, I'm aware. Oh boy, am I ever aware. Even before I became a parent, humanity's capacity for cruelty astounded me; now that I have kids, it astounds me AND scares the living hell out of me. The thought of my kids suffering at the hands of bullies like these -- or becoming bullies like these -- I can't even bear it.
Thankfully, Cequan's bullies were both found guilty of disorderly conduct, assault, and battery. Roxanne Haskins is currently filing a civil case against the Appomattox County School Board. But despite ongoing therapy, Cequan is still suffering from PTSD.
How do you feel when you hear stories like this about horrible bullies?
Image via ABC13
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Comments 31
In my community, the special needs children have their own buses.
When i hear of bullying incidents taking place, the only thing going through my mind is how that bully was raised.. What provokes that type of behavior? Is it abuse at home? Neglect? Or is it being placed on a pedestal from birth and told they are better than everyone and taught to look down on everyone? I just don't know and I can't comprehend it.
It's really sad. My heart goes out the victims! :(
I get flashbacks. I've seen the same treatment and I've suffered it myself. I don't think it will ever get better.
Often it can be difficult to peg the really bully. Situations like these are obvious, of course, but some every day bullying, you will have the victim and the bully both claiming victim and noone knows who to believe. Even if they do, the principals only ever said "You two need to get aloooong" and make both people apologize to eachother.
Bullies always have some excuse to be bullies. They always blame the victim. Alot of bullies are oblivious that they're bullies. They think that what THEY are doing isn't bullying, but mocking or teasing or whatever. Seldom was there ever a bully that owned up to it.
Sometimes they know they're a bully, but they think it's okay because "Oh he/she is just a bitch/weirdo so who cares".
Their victims aren't deserving of decent treatment in their eyes.
this is so sad, i feel bad for cequan but kuddos to mom for not putting up with it and filing. my daughter is special needs and she rides the bus with her twin sister. the bus driver has them sitting near the front. i would totally lose it if they were bullied.
i think bullying has gotten outta hand because parents cant discipline like old days. if i did something bad i'd get whacked with a paddle, now if you whack them someone is gonna call dcf...'child abuse' its stupid how our society has become, if we disciplined our kids then i think the bullying wouldnt be as bad as it is now.
I didn't watch the video. I don't think I could handle it.
So, so sad.