4 minute read
Bullying isn’t always bullying
Once during my career as a principal, I was accused of not caring about the students at my school. Three parents went to our local newspaper to report me as a non-caring individual. One day when I entered the office, my secretary came into my office with a look of dismay on her face. “Well, you made the paper but not in a good way,” she stated. Now anyone who knows me will tell you, people can say whatever they want about me but the one thing you cannot say is that I don’t care about children. It said I ignored bullying that was going on in the school with the children.
After reading the article, I called the parents and asked them to come meet with me. When they arrived, the secretary brought them to my office. This is the information I shared with them.
Bullying and lying are two major issues that schools face, and they can impact students, parents, and principals. Bullying can lead to physical and emotional harm, as well as a loss of self-esteem. Lying can cause distrust and damage relationships between students, parents, and school staff.
It is important for schools to have policies in place to address and prevent bullying and lying. This includes educating students on appropriate behavior, providing resources for victims and perpetrators, and enforcing consequences for those who engage in bullying or lying.
Parents also play a crucial role in preventing these behaviors by teaching their children about respect, empathy, and honesty. It is important for parents to communicate with their children and school staff to ensure that their child feels safe and supported at school.
Principals have the responsibility to create a positive and safe school culture. This includes setting clear expectations for behavior, promoting inclusivity and diversity, and addressing and resolving conflicts in a timely and effective manner. By working together, students, parents, and principals can create a safe and nurturing environment for all.
After sharing this information, I asked for the students to come to my office. As, I opened the door their eyes open wide as soon as they saw their parents. I then asked each one of the to explain to me and their parents exactly when, where, and what type of bullying had occurred at school. The room was silent.
Finally, one of the moms said, “Son, you better start talking because after talking with Mr. Thompson, I think someone is lying. Now, I want to hear the truth.”
“Well, uh, when I was walking down the hall somebody yelled from one of the classrooms, ’Hey boy!’ “Is that it?” asked the mom. “Yes ma’am.” he mumbled. “Boy, that’s not bullying!” she shouted.
The room went silent again. “Ok little girl, what do you have to say?” asked the father of the young lady in the group. “Well, I was eating some candy in class and some girls came over to my table and asked me to give them some. As I was about to give them some, the teacher came over and took the bag. She said she was going to call you to let you know this was the third time she has told me to not eat candy in her class.”
I thought if I told you I was being bullied, I wouldn’t get in trouble.” “So, you lied to me instead and now I’m here looking like a fool.” stated the father. “Ok young man, what do you have to say about this situation?” asked the last parent. “When I heard them talking about telling their parents someone was bullying them, I told you I was being bullied too. You let me stay at home because I told you I didn’t want to go to school because I was being bullied. I didn’t know you were going to go to the paper. Mr. Thompson has always been nice to me.” “So, you lied to me!” she shouted.
“Mr. Thompson, we are so sorry. We believed our children.” stated each parent. They told the students they were ashamed of them and themselves for going to the newspaper before coming to talk with me. I accepted their apologies; they left and the students went back to class. Needless to say, the newspaper never retracted or offered me an apology for printing the article.
Billy Thompson is a human being who believes in supporting, loving and caring for others. He is a graduate of Elon College and believer in life-long learning. Connect with Billy on Facebook.
