Bullying

The week was crazy with homecoming spirit days and celebrations. When it seems everyone is having a good time and is in good spirits, something happens that brings to your attention a big issue.

Friday afternoon, after Field Day where the students partake in fun and games, the powder puff game, and a pep assembly, a student came to the art room looking ready to burst into tears. She had forgotten her artwork before she left school and had to turn back to get it so she could work on it over the weekend. This seemed to be the breaking point of her day. When my CT asked what was wrong, the student burst into tears explaining why she has hated this high school since freshman year and that the past four years she's just been dealing with the torture on a day to day basis, hating having to wake up and do it again each day. Other students verbally harass her and pick on her for no reason. They blame her for the loss of sports games and pick on her for what she wears. This girl is by no means "unpopular", either. She is on sports teams and is very involved with the school. My entire time at this high school for my student teaching, I never pinned her as hating every minute of school. She is hardworking and mature in every situation. She puts on a front that everything is okay. Me and my CT knew something was up when she seemed to get more and more flustered in her days and stressed out. We ended up talking with this student for 2 hours. She needed to get out her feelings and emotions. She said no one else in the school knew and whenever she tried to tell the guidance counselor things that go on, her comments gets looked over.

I felt for this girl. I knew that this happens in every high school on a daily basis. She isn't the only victim and unfortunately many never come forward to tell anyone about their issues. We expressed how glad we were that this girl was coming forward. My CT told the student about the anti-bullying program she is trying to kickstart and that this event makes her want to push to head it even more. Students are not being held accountable for their actions, even when it is in front of teachers and faculty. This student's biggest complaint was that there were teachers present that day to see another girl harass her by yelling at her and saying that SHE lost the powder puff game for the Seniors in front of the team and in front of the stands. Not one teacher took the other girl aside to reprimand her for her rude behavior. There definitely needs to be more done in the schools and students and teachers need to be held accountable for what is going on. To teachers, it may seem like a small argument that students can solve on their own, but it may be a bigger problem that eats away at the victim until it becomes too big for the student to carry anymore.