To Whom It May Concern:
I am a 13 year old girl attending school at the Red Oak Middle School in Red Oak, Iowa. I used to like school, but now beg my parents to stay home almost every day. I thought when the government passed bullying laws things would change, but they haven’t. I hate school now. People call me stupid (which I am NOT), and weird and various other things. If I say or do something back I am the one that gets in trouble from the school, despite the fact that I have complained repeatedly about the bullying. Nothing ever happens to the bullies.
My mom keeps me home as much as she can, but says I have to go to school most days. If she keeps me home, the school demands to know why (which she says isn’t really any of their business, I’m HER daughter, not theirs), so she doesn’t do it as much as she would like to. She doesn’t like this anymore than I do, especially since she was bullied in school as a child, too.
There have been studies done about how bullying affects children. Why, then, is the entire Red Oak school district choosing to ignore this problem? No wonder they have a failing grade when it comes to overall school performance. My mom wonders how they can teach me anything when they’re failing.
We will be moving out of the state in September. It can’t come fast enough for me; maybe I can go to a school that I actually enjoy again.
When are the schools going to start obeying the laws about bullying? Aren’t we all supposed to obey laws? Or should I just keep this to myself and live with it? There are plenty of other kids in my school who go through this daily as well.
Sincerely,
Kat Colabello
Video: HERE
Day 1: no real bullying... good day today. So-and-so replied to my mothers comment on WOWT but the comment was deleted. (unnamed same person) had a short dialoge with me and it went like this:
Person- How are you bullied? I've never seen you get bullied.
Me: Maybe it's because you don't hang around me. You and (unnamed) bully me. should I go on with names?
Person: Yes.
Me: Well there's-
Teacher: SHUT UP (unnamed)!
end of dialog and day.
Well, at least the teacher did something!!! It's a start!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have two actions in Iowa from a town like Red Oak. Having taught in 14 towns across the state, I'm a little more keyed in. The GHAEA
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ghaea.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127%3Abehavior-team-resources&catid=5%3Adiverse-learning&Itemid=5
should have some resources but you will have to call them directly. Same is true of the department of education.
https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/learner-supports/school-health
My goal isn't to get people in trouble at the school, but with issues like this bringing in a 3rd party for objective observation is critical. Some people are oblivious that their actions might constitute bullying. With only one school at each grade level its tough to move sideways. There are advocates in the state as well but they tend to linger more in the major population centers.
A lot of these resources are aligned around special education (my particular field) but as a runt growing up I know all too well what bullying looks like. Unfortunately my route out was to become a bully as well.... Not something I'm proud of...
Since I'm not a resident of the state and most of my resources are in visual impairments and other AEA's I haven't got more to share than this. I hope things improve...
I know it is rediculus in here in red oak Kat I mean cmon we both go through the same thing were like best friend
ReplyDeleteMr. Perrienn wants to know about EVERY incident, Dianna, so don't feel uncomfortable going to him or Mr. Theo!!!
ReplyDelete