Children Are So Cruel

[Goetian]

I had to go to middle school in Tennessee. You know what they do in Tennessee?

They have a "zero tolerance" law, which states that if you are involved in a fight, even if you are the victim, and EVEN IF YOU DO NOT DEFEND YOURSELF, you are in as much trouble as the aggressor. They enforced this, too. One time a girl got jumped as she came out of class, and she just laid on the ground and allowed herself to be beaten, hoping she wouldn't get in trouble. She went to court along with her attacker.

The kids at my school were honestly inbred and they did drugs on the bus. They didn't care about their future, only about looking tough. So all they had to do was threaten me with violence and there was nothing I could do to keep them from having their way with me, if I didn't want to go to court. Often they resorted to violence anyway, so I was in the principal's office almost every single day, no exaggeration, and I always got blamed for the fights because I was always in them. The teachers hated me and told me it was MY fault I was bullied for being "weird", and told my mother I should be put on Ritalin. The administration refused to do anything about the bullying and said I was a liar looking for attention.

I couldn't even go to the bathroom. I tried that and a girl kicked the door open while I was peeing, and it slammed into my head and knocked me off the toilet. Pee got all over everything and the door was wide open while I had my pants down and everyone crowded around to laugh.

If I didn't get to the bus fast enough to get a seat before all of them had at least one person, I wouldn't get to sit down. I learned this the hard way. No one would let me sit down and so I had to stand up for half an hour while they threw things at me, cursed at me, and hit me. They wouldn't even let me hold onto the seats so I wouldn't fall down. But I didn't fall down, because they were seriously so violent when I was standing up I was afraid they would start kicking and trampling me and then I'd really be in trouble. I had my first panic attack during this incident. After this, I started having them periodically throughout the school day for the rest of the year.

I was treated so badly that when a person bumped into me and apologized I burst out crying right that instant. It was embarrassing, but I couldn't help it because I was so shocked and moved. In two years at that school, nobody had EVER apologized to me. For anything.

People always said I was exaggerating about how often things were thrown at me during class. So one day, I counted. During a 55-minute period, I was hit with 52 things.

People would always mash gum in my hair on the bus, and spit all over me. I would have to go to wash my hair in the sink and pick the gum out in the morning. One day I got sick of this and covered up with my coat. They noticed and thought this was funny so they spit toothpaste all over it. Where they got that idea, I don't know. I managed to compromise between being spit all over and attracting attention by wearing a hood. Even in the summer.

One time the principal called me out of the lunch line. Everyone assumed I was in trouble, and -- I swear I'm not making this up -- the entire line went absolutely crazy and started shouting and throwing food at me. This was the one occurrence which actually made the administration believe me when I said I was bullied. But they didn't do anything because it was easier to suggest I be drugged up until I wouldn't notice anymore.

The same thing happened when I walked in late when there was a substitute teacher. The entire class stood up and started shouting and throwing things and had me backed up against the wall. The teacher couldn't get them to settle down even when she started writing out inidividual detentions -- she had to wait for them to get bored.

I hope the people who came up with that zero tolerance policy die long, slow, painful deaths while unable to defend themselves.

[homeschoolmom]

I believe your story.

This must be the fantastic "socialization" everyone keeps asking me about...

[Budge]

If I had children they would be homeschooled.

I am a BIG SUPPORTER OF HOMESCHOOLING.

My entire church homeschools.

I worked in schools years ago, and things Ive seen, horrible...

Schools today are more for the dumbing down and socialization Read: turning into little conformist drones where the different--creative and more intelligent are beaten down by a hammer}

Zero tolerance laws are getting stupider.

If my child was beat up and attacked at school, on a daily basis, I want to ask some of these parents, WHY ARE YOU LEAVING THEM IN THAT SITUATION?

Their self esteem and more will SUFFER FOR LIFE.

Any kid that is too smart, too fat, too different, too slow, will get their butt kicked in todays modern school.

My parents allowed me to fight bullies when I was young, and I probably was spared more harrassment. I also had a big brother in the grade above me which helped things considerably.

I saw bad stuff even in Catholic school, I went to school with this kid who had learning disabilities, and he was beaten up almost every day for YEARS. The kids used to play this horrible game called "Smear the qwerty" not making this up, I remember that title like yesterday, and it was a game for the boys. They would pick the fat, quiet, new or different kid--this kid named Stevie was chosen almost weekly, and they would beat the tar out of him. The teachers would turn away and ignore this stuff.

I saw bad stuff while in schools, different kidsz harrassed and treated BAD. I almost was flunked in student teaching even for trying to defend a Jewish kid from my crazy teacher supervisor. Shed actually use Jewish slurs against the poor child. I wasnt a Christian then, this was during my UU years, but I have seen horrific stuff. Dont get me started on special ed classrooms either.

Edited November 1, 2006 by Budge

[homeschoolmom]

We played a game in sixth grade called "smear the qwerty" but our version was really more of a "everyone vs. the guy with the ball" kind of thing-- nothing particularly cruel about it. I wonder why we called it that, though...

Anyway, I agree with your basic assessment of schools, Budge.

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote name='Budge' post='1107366' date='Nov 1 2006, 10:26 AM']
If I had children they would be homeschooled.

I am a BIG SUPPORTER OF HOMESCHOOLING.

My entire church homeschools.
[/quote]

wow, how cool
what kind of church do you go to?

I went to a Catholic school too, and saw some carp - I don't think as bad as what you saw (thank God) but still bad
I saw way worse with public school...

"kids can be cruel"
esp when God is evicted from public life and practice

I recently heard Fr. Corapi point out that the #1 cause of death among kids today... is suicide
it used to be car accidents, and we used to welcome God into our schools

[Guest T-Bone]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1107384' date='Nov 1 2006, 08:05 AM']
We played a game in sixth grade called "smear the qwerty" but our version was really more of a "everyone vs. the guy with the ball" kind of thing-- nothing particularly cruel about it. I wonder why we called it that, though...

Anyway, I agree with your basic assessment of schools, Budge.
[/quote]

Yeah..."smear the qwerty" is a ball game. No idea why it is called that, though.

[franciscanheart]

Horrific! Plainly horrific!


I saw some pretty nasty things at public school (and heard about a lot more). I, thankfully, was never too closely involved with anything violent. I did see a lot of kids get picked on and it was awful but there were times I didn't have the guts to say anything to anyone, even in private.

Thankfully at my school our assistant principal (senior principal) was hardcore and would not allow for anything. She was awesome and I think she was the reason we didn't have more trouble than we did. Anyone that did anything got in trouble. Guaranteed.

I went to an arts school (we had about 7 different programs) so it was easier for people to be open about their talents and abilities. Most people were very open and receptive.

Anyway... these are awful stories. I would keep kids away from most public high schools for SURE.

[RC_]

I found it was more the parents being the problem than the kids.

[Seven77]

i used to get made fun of in Catholic school because i walked with a limp. Then the counselor laid the smackdown... and suddenly everybody was nice to me.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='Budge' post='1107366' date='Nov 1 2006, 09:26 AM']
If I had children they would be homeschooled.

I am a BIG SUPPORTER OF HOMESCHOOLING.

My entire church homeschools.

I worked in schools years ago, and things Ive seen, horrible...

Schools today are more for the dumbing down and socialization Read: turning into little conformist drones where the different--creative and more intelligent are beaten down by a hammer}

Zero tolerance laws are getting stupider.

If my child was beat up and attacked at school, on a daily basis, I want to ask some of these parents, WHY ARE YOU LEAVING THEM IN THAT SITUATION?

Their self esteem and more will SUFFER FOR LIFE.

Any kid that is too smart, too fat, too different, too slow, will get their butt kicked in todays modern school.

My parents allowed me to fight bullies when I was young, and I probably was spared more harrassment. I also had a big brother in the grade above me which helped things considerably.

I saw bad stuff even in Catholic school, I went to school with this kid who had learning disabilities, and he was beaten up almost every day for YEARS. The kids used to play this horrible game called "Smear the qwerty" not making this up, I remember that title like yesterday, and it was a game for the boys. They would pick the fat, quiet, new or different kid--this kid named Stevie was chosen almost weekly, and they would beat the tar out of him. The teachers would turn away and ignore this stuff.

I saw bad stuff while in schools, different kidsz harrassed and treated BAD. I almost was flunked in student teaching even for trying to defend a Jewish kid from my crazy teacher supervisor. Shed actually use Jewish slurs against the poor child. I wasnt a Christian then, this was during my UU years, but I have seen horrific stuff. Dont get me started on special ed classrooms either.
[/quote]
for once i agree with something budge says

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='RC_' post='1114033' date='Nov 7 2006, 03:06 PM']
I found it was more the parents being the problem than the kids.
[/quote]
Yeah, often times it's just kids being immature and doing what kids do. It's the adults' responsibility to train the immaturity out of them... THAT is socialization...

[RC_]

That, and parents train intolerence into thier kids.

[homeschoolmom]

Yes, either directly or by example.

[MRSannie]

That is true--on so many levels


One good bit of news! Our son (8th grade, PDD-NOS, ADHD, special ed, speech delay, etc) has just started as the manager for the 7th grade basketball team! He loves stats and sports, and the coach has taken this on as a special project--our son will do stats, help with drills and NOT just be the waterboy! He loves it, got to 'dress up' with the team at school today. Praise God for prayers answered, I haven't even finished my Novena to St Monica yet,....

[prose]

I was just thinking about asking you about him....