SPECIAL REPORT: Bullying
Alternative content
SPECIAL REPORT: Bullying
An Atlanta family is grieving over the death of a ten-year-old boy. He killed himself after being taunted by schoolyard bullies. It's a growing problem and many parents are searching for answers....
An Atlanta family is grieving over the death of a ten-year-old boy. He killed himself after being taunted by schoolyard bullies. It’s a growing problem and many parents are searching for answers. Count on Fraendy Clervaud for more on bullying in a WJBF News Channel 6 Special Report. We will also have an expert on bullying live in our News Studio during our 5 pm, 5:30 pm, and 6 pm newscasts, answering your questions about bullying.
Augusta, GA—Some parents don’t know how to deal with it, or they don’t even know their child is dealing with a bully. So, we talked with a brave young man who was bullied. He says he hopes his story will empower and help others.
You see it in the movies, or on television, but sceranrios like this one are becoming all too common.
Sam Jebens, from Edgefield, South Carolina knows all about it…
Sam Jebens, Edgefield, SC: “I would tell teachers, and of course, that also earned me the nickname ‘Snitch.‘“
Sam and his parents moved from San Diego to Edgefield, a few years ago. He tells us the bullying began in sixth grade. Sam remembers the day when a bully pulled his pants down in front of classmates.
Sam: “Like most bullies, they picked on someone from out of place. I became a target.“
Recently, Sam was suspended because he decided to take matters into his own hands.
Sam: “Someone had been digging around my stuff, and when I tried to get it back, I hit him and I ended up getting suspended for a few days and that made me feel like I did something wrong, even through from what I’m being told, I was doing the right thing.“
Sam says he wished, for days, that the bullying would stop. Just this year, two youngsters committed suicide after being bullied over and over at school.
Doctor Adrienne Davis is a licensed psychologist. She says bullying is all about power.
Doctor Adrienne Davis, Evans, GA psychologist: “It’s a way of feeling dominate, it’s a way of feeling powerful, and a way of controlling and intimidating a person who you believe is less powerful than you are.“
Numerous attempts were made by Sam’s parents to get intervention from school administrators. About 16 pages of e-mails and correspondence were sent. The family got some responses, but are still awaiting for more action. Sam went to his parents for help, but what if your child was afraid to tell you they are being bullied? Could you spot the signs?
Dr. Davis: “Any changes in your child’s behavior, with respect to enjoying going to school and being around friends, and getting up in the morning to go to school. If you have a child that becomes withdrawn and starts having difficulty sleeping is nervous worried or fearful about going to school that can right to physical symptoms.“
Sam says his father started to role play with him at home to help him deal with unwanted confrontations. He offers a word of advice for bullying victims.
Sam: “Stay strong, ‘cause for me, the bullying that happened to me, I believe has strengthened me and will help me out in life. It will make me a stronger person.“
Dr. Adrienne Davis will answer questions about bullying, during the 5 pm, 5:30 pm, and 6:00 pm newscasts. You can send your questions to , until the 6:00 pm newscast, when she will apprear during that newscast live to answer your questions. Those questions and answers can be viewed below:
Expert Answers Viewer Questions About Bullying - Part 1
Expert Answers Viewer Questions About Bullying - Part 2
Expert Answers Viewer Questions About Bullying - Part 3
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
It is so sad and frustrating to see the mant comments where the victims of bullying are further victimized by the school system. It is also ridiculous that in this day and age where we have had tragedies..whether it be young ones who commit suicide or ones who come to take revenge on those who bullied them, and innocent bystanders…or maybe the bystanders who are not so innocent..why would it have to come to this before the cries of the victim are recognized? How many times can an administration downplay an incident until it spirals out of control? I believe that many are aware…I have heard stories of reponses like…“if we addresssed every incident of bullying, then we would never get anything else done”, so they choose to ignore every incident..I’ve heard “If it didn’t happen in front of a teacher..then it did not happen”..as if the bully would really do this in front of a teacher. I heard of a little girl who has to get on the bus early and hide in her seat to keep her bullies from seeing her just to endure the bus ride..all with the bus driver’s knowledge…the driver knows of the bullying..even hears it but will not address it…she just has to hide or endure the cruel taunts. I am grateful I was in a position to home school and to send my child to a virtual academy..I know many parents work, and are @ a loss @ what to do with children too young to stay home alone and can’t afford to stay @ home with them. I hope people keep shedding light on this problem, and I hope there are some administrators strong enough and compassionate enough to fight for the victims before it’s too late ...
To Feliciargrs38:
Sir/Ma’am. I’m the father of Sam Jebens who was featured in the news article. My heart goes out to you. I really can empathize with your situation. A few things I can recommend (which we have learned the hard way).
1. Role play with your child. Place them in situation which may provoke bullying, harassment, provoking comments. Then watch your child’s reaction to your “instigation” and coach them how to respond/react. It has worked wonders with Sam.
2. Be on guard for the school administration “down playing” the incident. Sam’s current principal at Strom Thurmond H.S. refused to call the behavior “harassment or bullying”...instead he calls it “teasing or picking-on”...because it minimizes the incident and through transference makes the victim the problem. Also, the schools no longer make this issue about the student. Instead it truly is “cover thine own’s backside.“ What I’m saying is constantly remind them of the proper terminology…force them to use it through repetition. We have to put the administrators on a “12 step program” for bullying…the first being acceptance.
3. Minimize verbal correspondence with the school reps. Make all communication written form. Keep copies and document, document, document. Approach the problem that it will eventually go to litigation (though my family hopes it will not). Administrators, while indifferent, aren’t dumb. When you show them 22 pages of promises, indifference, and their own principal calling the behavior teasing, it really makes them look small and forces them to come to grips with the issue. If they don’t, they know the case you’ve been building.
4. Last, get familiar with the state laws. South Carolina has a Safe Schools Act. It mandates schools develop a bullying/harassment policy. I’m beginning to discover Edgefield County Schools appear to be in non-compliance with their own policy and state law. Imbedded in the law is a provision that the students receive the training on bullying…that has not been instituted in Edgefield (to the best of my knowledge). All of the harassment training stresses that the most effective action is positive involvement by the other students (which makes it imperative that the students get the training). Passive indifference by other students only empowers the harasser/bully.
Hope this helps, you and your child are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mark Jebens
Schools usually hire cheerleaders and jocks to teach and coach. These are 2 groups who are stereotypically known for bullying. I can’t see how parents ca possibly think they can get justice or feel safe sending their kids to school under these kinds of people.
BULLYING can take many forms. For instance, while shopping in a local department store, I noticed the customers were lined up outside the store while the employees forced them to empty their bagss, all the while the employers snickered at the humiliation the customers underwent. If the customer protested in any way, the police were called and the customers were not allowed to shop in that store again.
I have a 13 year old son whos been dealing with bullying a lot at murphy middle school three boys jumped him and they bully him until this day they took his bookbag took all of his books and notebooks out tore them up now i have to pay 102.00 for books . They gave my son a black eye i went over to the school to talk to the teachers and prinicipal they only gave the boys in school suspension for ONE DAY. my son is only 69 lbs. maybe 4 foot tall he`s been bullied since hes been there i cant afford to move i really need help and some advice on what can i do if theres anyone out there that can help with what can i do to help my son. i have to make him go to school everyday. He has a doctor he sees twice a month and he`s on 5 meds . HELP Thanks for any advice on this situation .
I know first hand how the schools treat “bullying”. Not a thing! They tell you to talk to the principle, HA that’s a joke. She denied any such thing was happening in her school. We went to the RCBOE, nada, nothing! It’s outrageous that a child can’t go to school and get a great education.We withdrew my daughter from school,she’s being homeschooled and loves it.
As far as getting the names or address of the person parents that are doing the bullying from the school is a no win situation. They DO NOT give out ANY information WHATSOEVER! This is why there is so many shootings at ALL SCHOOLS IN THE USA. No one cares!
One thing is for sure Homeschooling is the Best! Some people don’t agree with it but it WORKS!!!!!
hello,ijust wanted to give you all some info on what happened with my granddaughter.her mother and i went to the principle and counsler and the board of ed.NOTHING was done.I actually believe the school officals was afraid of the 16 year old that was in middle school instead of jr high.We took our child out of school and is now being home schooled.Sad situation that this happens and your child can;t be amoung other children their age!it does not do ANY GOOD to go to the officals!!!!!!
Augusta Schools obviously have bullying issues. The schools say they have a zero tolerance, but do they know what that means? What are the schools doing about this issue as it is apparent that it is happening in great numbers within our schools. Maybe it is time that we as parents take a stand and sue the schools for the inability to create a safe environment. If we hit them where it hurts, maybe we will see some action.
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!
It is about time that someone say something about what is going on in the school systems. I have a little boy in elementary school and he has been bullied for more than three years. Each time we go to the school to complain we get little or no help. The children that do the bullying are not afraid and they keep on bullying day after day. I personally believe that the teachers turn their heads and ignore what is goin on. The worst part is when my child complains about being hit on, kicked, spit on, attacked in the bathroom, on the playground, called vulgar names the teacher will say “not you again” instead of stopping the abuse. Not until I complained that I would be calling the news channels and looking into hiring private security for my child did any of the bullies get suspended. You would think this would end it all, right? Wrong! When the suspended child gets back to school he and his friends starts again. My child is teased by the class and teacher as being a tattle tale instead of being a victim. Richmond county has a no bullying policy but the teachers and principals do nothing to stop it when it starts. I am so afraid when my child goes to school because I never know what is going to happen. He is just 10 years old and he has been attacked in the toilet, in the lunchroom, on the playground, in the classroom. He has come home with a black eye, black marker written all over his arms and clothes, busted lip and scratches. The principal told me that “these kids act this way” as though that is an excuse. I am fighting for my child’s survivor and they think it is a joke. I hate the school he goes to but I cannot afford to send him to a private school. I have saved all correspondences and pictures of my child’s injuries because I know in my heart that eventually I will need them. A ten year old should never be afraid to go to school and a parent should never be afraid to send her child to school. My son told me about a big fight on the playground that broke out. All the teachers were sitting down talking, laughing and just having a grand old time. He said that only one teacher stood up as though to intervene and he noticed no one else moved so he sat back down too! I asked what happened to the gighting kids and he said they just kept on fighting. This is so sad…..
I sometimes get bullied at school. Some people tase me because of what I look like. they sometimes call me muslim because of how I look. On the bus it is a different story. some people hit me or spit on my head. Today, somebody spat on my face. i really need some help with this issue.
Advertisement