If I were to write a letter to Oprah, what would I say?
Something like this...
Dear Oprah,
Nine years and five days ago, a tragedy of an unspeakable kind happened to our family. Our son, Jared, took his life. He was 13 years and 6 days old.
Our family has never been the same; I have never been the same.
When I walked into our home that morning, after being called by a dispatcher to come home, and heard the news from my husband, that Jared was dead, I knew that depression had driven Jared to take his life and that bullying was the trigger.
That was the moment of change in my life. Since that day, I have resolved that I would try to prevent that same outcome in other lives.
I would say more...
I would want Oprah to see that she can help me in my resolve.
But maybe I'll add more in the next blog
Brenda High
Author, Bullycide in America
www.Bullycide.org
Thursday, October 4, 2007
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5 comments:
Brenda,
My grandsons, who are ages 12 and 10 are having a terrible experience with bullying at school. We have complained to the principal, the Superintendent of the school they attend and the school board. Still, the incidents continue.
The boys have been spit on, swarmed, punched in the face and have been the object of others using the swiping motion across the neck, indicating that they will have their throats slit. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Mary
Hey Brenda, This is Nancy, Zack's mom. Alot has been going on in school for him, and it is not all good. Monica and I want to resume our activity status with bullypolice.
Zack has been being punched in the privates at his tech school, and nothing is done to the students involved. As a matter of fact, the teacher screamed in Zack's face, calling him a liar. He is about to loose it.
First to the two posts on here, I can feel your childrens pain. At 17 I lost control, students nearly got severely hurt in my school. I understand how your children feel, and what it is to think that no one is there to help you. It is a feeling I will carry the rest of my life. I am surviving now as an adult, and I feel blessed to have found others who have gone through the same things I have. My time in school is one I never want to relive, and getting schools to see it is a challenge. All of the authors of bullycide in america have done something wonderful to get that knowledge out there, and I commend them for bringing their pain to the light of the people. As communities we have to change the setting, and schools have to change their environments. We cannot any longer avoid the pain of these children, and they have to be found as early as possible, so they can recover without feeling like they have fought a war and lost. My prayers go out to all of the mothers who are dealing with a stubborn school, administrations that don't care, teachers who fail to see, and belittle children. I will continue my work as long as their is one child hurt, that one in despair, because I have to have hope that something is and can be done. Thank you Patrick Harnish CAABI Iowa www.caabi.org
Peace
My son was put through hell for years by bullies. No matter how many times we went to the principals, nothing was done. There were 2 times that he made comments about wanting to get hit by a car so he would not be around for them to hurt him. Also, he said he wished he was deaf so he wouldn't have to hear all the nasty things that they said. Another thing, what do you do when the bully is a teacher, and the school always takes her side? Brenda, if you are reading this, this is Nancy, Zack's mom from Pennsylvania.
Dear Oprah, My 9 yr old son has been a victim of School bullying since 2004. I haev made hundreds of phone calls, complaints, and conferences regarding it to no avail. My son Antonio is still afraid to go to school, has every symptom there is of being bullied. In NYS we do not have a ANTI-BULLYING LAW to protect our children and establish proper safety at school. I wish to be a guest on your show and lobby for this law. I wish to raise awareness locally to the issue. The old saying when I was a child and getting bullied was " STICKS & STONES WILL HURT MY BONES BUT NAMES WILL NEVER HURT ME!" This is a MYTH!! Names do hurt your very SOUL!! I was one of those kids scared of my own shadow, running home from school. I intend to put an end to BULLYING in 2009. If all Mother's band together as 1, we can save our children's future and take back what Bully's have stolen. Mothers across the Globe, Unite with me . Blessings
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