Bullying: Why is nothing being done?

Let's face it:  bullying is a huge problem.  It's not a new problem, but it is definitely one that is gaining in momentum.  With the invention of email, facebook, myspace and twitter, bullying has taken on a life of it's own and something really needs to be done to stop it.  Nearly every day you can find another story about violence caused by bullying, whether it be an attack or a suicide.  How incredibly sad when you hear of school officials and/or parents who KNOW about the bullying and do nothing to stop it!  The laws regulating bullying (or should I say, lack of laws) is outrageous.

In our school, for instance, there are daily occurances of kids taunting other kids, making threats, pushing, teasing, etc.  And no, there is generally nothing done about it.  There seems to be a set of school rules that only exist for protect the bully.  What ever happened to kids being expelled at school for causing harm?  When a child threatens to harm another student, why isn't that kid able to be seen by a professional?  Apparently the "rules" are that seeking help is only an option AFTER a physical attack occurs.  Hmmm.  So my child can only be protected AFTER she gets physically hit?  Wow... what a screwed up society we have.  Interesting how an adult can get a restraining order on another adult who threatens them, but a child can't go to school officials and request such an order for another child.  As parents, what are we supposed to do?  Many end up pulling good kids out of school.  How insanely ridiculous that the good kids are suffering and the bad kids go about their business as if nothing has happened.  Come on school board... and PTA... and local police departments.  DO SOMETHING!!!!  It's the kid who bullies at 10 who will become the same kid who pulls a gun in high school.

Disclaimer:  No, my own kids have not been personally bullied at school.  They do, however, know other kids who have.  Yes, I personally know some of the bullies and know for a fact that nothing is being done.  Scary!

Never a Dull Moment

Two major events happened within the past 24 hours in our house.

1) Last night after dinner and showers, I asked Amanda to go outside and tell her sisters to come in the house.  (Shower and backyard play don't mix in my book!)  So she goes outside and not 3 minutes later Temera comes running inside yelling, "Mandy fell, she's got blood everywhere!"  It's about 7:00 pm and I just put some chocolate chip cookies in the oven.  So "blood everywhere" really isn't what I wanted to hear at that point.  Apparantly, my tomboy daughter decided that instead of telling her sisters to come inside, she would have some fun on the monkey bars.  Problem is, she missed.  And face down she went onto the ground.  Now, our monkey bars are pretty high up, so that little 7 year old must have taken quite the nose-dive (literally).  Blood everywhere! 

By some miracle, her nose wasn't broken and her teeth weren't chipped.  That girl must have a guardian angel watching over her.  Nothing that an ice pack (and some chocolate chip cookies) couldn't fix.

2) This morning, I'm getting the girls ready for school.  I make Lauryn a cheese omelet like I do most days.  This day, however, she isn't real happy that I cut it in half and gave part of it to her sister.  In fact, she is so upset at me... and Temera... and the whole family in general... that she decides to call 9-1-1.  (I knew nothing good could come out of that child learning her numbers.)  I hear her dialing the phone and tell her to hang it up.  She does, but by that time someone has already answered the phone.  Oh dear!  About 3 seconds later, I get a phone call from the L.A. Country Sheriff.  Yes, my 5 year old called 9-1-1.  No, we don't have a problem.  I'm apologetic (and totally embarassed) and hoping they don't send a police car to my house.  They didn't.  But always good to know that they are on top of those 9-1-1 calls.