Discussions

Are the staff aware of what's going on? (the bullying isn't likely to occur in the presence of a teacher or staff) If the teachers know about it they can pay closer attention to those students and hopefully catch the bullying in the act and take pro-active steps.  
It really needs to be caught in the act, if the bullying students learn that they were "told on" it could provide further ammunition for even more bullying. Bullying is a complex issue.  
 
Teaching the victim to fight back has its merits but doesn't work if the bullys are bigger in stature, and this approach just doesn't fly anymore in today's school environment.  
 
I think the best deterrent is to teach the victim of bullying how to stand up for themselves in a passive and aloof manner, as in to just ignore it, if a bully cannot get a reaction out of their victim, it just loses its appeal.

Is to teach others not to be bystanders. If they see someone being bullied, they, as a group should tell the bully to stop. If the bully doesn't get support from the 'group' they will likely stop.

It would appear as though you've never been bullied.......

Klemmy31 said "It would appear as though you've never been bullied....... "

To elaborate,(just to the issue in general and not OPs particular case). What I'm trying to say is if you can teach a kid the psychology of bullying, explain to them WHY its happening, why a bully does it, what made the bully the way they are.  
Teach them that that the bullys behavior is rooted in immense frustration, deep insecurity, and need for attention. They likely came from homes where they were ignored and/or abused to some degree by parents or older siblings, they are psychologically damaged kids and that's why they are bullying you, at no fault of your own  
 
This will help them understand, and not take what's being said personally. Otherwise they might feel as though the bully is the normal one and THEY are the ones with the problem or fault, which causes them to react with anger or embarrassment, which is exactly what the bully wants and just encourages further bullying.  
 
I guess what I'm advocating is instead of dealing with each isolated case of bullying FOR the kid, why not build up the child with knowledge needed to put a stop to bullying themselves, by teaching the child why its happening, so they don't take it personally and therefore don't give the reaction that the bully is looking for, its a life skill.  
 
 
Edited by Enfyre, 2015-12-04 11:43:01

Sadly it has been going on with this specific school for years. The threads keep popping up, and getting deleted. We had issues with this school. I'm not sure where their priority is at but 'zero tolerance' isn't one at the top of their list.

My boys used to get bullied a lot at that school when they were in grade 2 and kindergarten, they used to get picked on by grade 6 and 7 boys. School wouldn't do anything so I told them I was gonna come stand and watch at lunch and recess but we ended up moving. Boys never got bullied at the new school

Hello  
At Brandon School Division, we take bullying issues quite seriously, and we ask that you please contact your child’s school Principal to discuss any concerns you may have with regards to bullying.  
 
École New Era School  
Principal: Mr. Phil Vickers  
527 Louise Avenue  
Brandon, MB R7A 0X1  
T: 204-729-3161  
newera@bsd.ca  
 
If you are a parent from a different school where your child is experiencing these behaviours, contact information for all of our schools can be found on our website at: https://www.bsd.ca/OurSchools/Pages/default.aspx  
Thank you.  

child is being bullied goto the principal and if your not happy with his response to the issue, contact the superintendent's office at BSD and let them know what's going on. Don't settle until they take action to put a stop to it.

The real solution is to go to the police and have charges laid. But that would require the school to take bullying seriously and for the police to take bullying seriously but the chances of that happening are slim to none. Chances are to end the torture of your children you might have to home school or move.

Had serious issues with this school. The bullying became physical and nothing was done about it. Was told "girls will be girls" trust me we went through all the channels. Teachers new. Principal new. Went to the division office, nothing was ever done. Ended up switching her schools.

DarrenFriessen said "Does anyone else have issues with their child being bullied and nothing seems to stop it? Do the schools not step in properly when a child is being targeted by bullies? "

Unfortunately I witnessed Bullying myself first had at New Era School over 30 years ago, I was sent to New Era due to Harrison Jr. High was over crowded. To get to the point I was there in Grad nine, drugs were know to be in the school, Kids in grade 9 feared the gym class as the "jocks" always used to pick on a certain group of kids and would throw them in the showers books and all.  
The mentality of the teachers then as it appears now is the are not only afraid of the kids that are the bullies but fear the parents.  
I live across the street from a elementary school and see constant bullying going on but it is brushed off and marked as rough play, kids are playing a new game etc.  
We even have a few in town that like to Say "Do you know who my Dad Is"  
 
Education is done on the home front, at every school level, as well as the internet which has gotten so bad the statistics are unreal.  
 
Take the time to speak to our children, educate them they way the school should in regards to bullying as if it is not going to be dealt with now it will continue over the years.

Brandon School Division said "Hello   At Brandon School Division, we take bullying issues quite seriously, and we ask that you please contact your child’s school Principal to discuss any concerns you may have with regards to bullying.     École New Era School   Principal: Mr. Phil Vickers   527 Louise Avenue   Brandon, MB R7A 0X1   T: 204-729-3161   newera@bsd.ca     If you are a parent from a different school where your child is experiencing these behaviours, contact information for all of our schools can be found on our website at: https://www.bsd.ca/OurSchools/Pages/default.aspx   Thank you.   "

this will work. Talk, talk, talk, with no serious effort to curb real bullying. It's been going on for years.  
 
Contact the principal...many have, nothing happens. Contact the super...many have, nothing happens. It's the same old song and dance.  
 
Meanwhile, little kids are being tormented. Toothless, gutless policies do nothing.  

Sorbet said "    Brandon School Division said "Hello   At Brandon School Division, we take bullying issues quite seriously, and we ask that you please contact your child’s school Principal to discuss any concerns you may have with regards to bullying.     École New Era School   Principal: Mr. Phil Vickers   527 Louise Avenue   Brandon, MB R7A 0X1   T: 204-729-3161   newera@bsd.ca     If you are a parent from a different school where your child is experiencing these behaviours, contact information for all of our schools can be found on our website at: https://www.bsd.ca/OurSchools/Pages/default.aspx   Thank you.   " this will work. Talk, talk, talk, with no serious effort to curb real bullying. It's been going on for years.     Contact the principal...many have, nothing happens. Contact the super...many have, nothing happens. It's the same old song and dance.     Meanwhile, little kids are being tormented. Toothless, gutless policies do nothing.   "

Hear, hear!

As a counterpoint, I have had kids in that school since the early 2000's and not had any issues with bullying, and I have found the teachers and various principals to be very attentive and responsive to any and all issues that have come up.

Enfyre said "    Klemmy31 said "It would appear as though you've never been bullied....... " To elaborate,(just to the issue in general and not OPs particular case). What I'm trying to say is if you can teach a kid the psychology of bullying, explain to them WHY its happening, why a bully does it, what made the bully the way they are.   Teach them that that the bullys behavior is rooted in immense frustration, deep insecurity, and need for attention. They likely came from homes where they were ignored and/or abused to some degree by parents or older siblings, they are psychologically damaged kids and that's why they are bullying you, at no fault of your own     This will help them understand, and not take what's being said personally. Otherwise they might feel as though the bully is the normal one and THEY are the ones with the problem or fault, which causes them to react with anger or embarrassment, which is exactly what the bully wants and just encourages further bullying.     I guess what I'm advocating is instead of dealing with each isolated case of bullying FOR the kid, why not build up the child with knowledge needed to put a stop to bullying themselves, by teaching the child why its happening, so they don't take it personally and therefore don't give the reaction that the bully is looking for, its a life skill.       Edited by Enfyre, 2015-12-04 11:43:01"

would like to share an interesting piece related to an interview on the CBC recently.  
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bullies-have-higher-self-esteem-social-success-study-finds-1.3173387  
 
to quote from the article "Conventional wisdom has long suggested that bullies come from rough families, have low self-esteem, or harass others because they were once victims themselves.  
 
But new research from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. suggests that many bullies may have higher self-esteem and social status than previously thought."  
 

Article was a good read, although It seemed like what was being described was the social hierarchy amongst school kids, especially with boys its the most pronounced, its a pecking order, of course the dominant boy would have higher self esteem and social status over the other boys and he asserts himself as leader by displaying that dominance, in a way that could by a stretch be described as bullying, in some instances.  
 
But social hierarchy and competition is real world stuff, you see it everywhere in business structures, military, government, etc, and schools all about preparing for the real world.  
 
But that's all a little different than the type of bullying I was thinking of, when one student is relentlessly harrassed by another (presumably larger/older) student whos not a part of the victims social group, its happening just to visibly torment the victim for the bully's own self gratification.  
I think that the traditional bully profile is more accurate in that scenario.  
 
Edited by Enfyre, 2015-12-05 00:01:34

Get your kids out of their bubble and stand up for themselves. This bullying only started a few years ago when kids would not stick up for themselves. If your child is getting bullied,it's either yours as parent or the child has no stones. Which comes back to the parents. I would suggest cracking him or her in the nose.

After all the years I've been around I'm sort or amazed that people try and say that a bully can be blamed on one or two things, trying to profile a bully at these early years would be nearly impossible as far as I'm concerned, the causes can range from jealousy to just being an immature mean person, and likely about a hundred other things in between. Same can be said about how to handle a bully. Bullies are individual people, some who have not developed as emotional or intellectual people, and maybe never will, and none of the ideas presented will work with all bulling situations.  
 
Bullying is sort of like racism, society can make rules or try and educate people that it is wrong but I sort of think it is human nature, or maybe to take it one step further, just nature in general, where with in species individuals try and dominate others within that species.  
 
Oh well, don't see it stopping anytime in the future, and as long as there isn't violence involved it could be viewed as a life lesson.

This could possibly be the worst bullying scenario , a teacher & student.  
Especially since the adult knows better.  
 
I would take your complaint of teacher bullying right to the top. Send a letter to BSD. Then call the education minister and don't stop calling until you get a sit down of at least a chat on the phone.  
If the education minister has no interest then take your story to CBC. I'm sure the appropriate people will then address this concern.  
 
Very Terrible if a teacher is preying on a student. I would definitely take your issues to the education minister.  
 

Then she knocked the bully on his ass.  
 
The principal called me before suspending her for fighting!  
 
I said, go ahead but ask her what happened first.  
 
She never got suspended.  
 
The bully stopped that behaviour.  
 
She was in grade one at the time. She never got bullied again.  
 
She's a teacher now.

https://ncadd.org/about-addiction/signs-and-symptoms/what-to-look-for-signs-and-symptoms

Thank you Zekeland and zoelog for your input. We have considered going to the top at BSD but unsure who that is now. Never thought of the Minister of Education. As far as drugs and/or achohol there is none in our house as our son no longer leaves the basement long enough to participate in either. We are watching for both. He does tell us of school mates that do use mostly drugs and can't understand why they do and no longer hangs out with them. We have considered legal action but makes no sense without concrete evidence. The last statement made by this so called teacher to our son, and I will be politically correct, is he wished harm would come to one of our son's School mates. What kind of teachers are allowed in the BSD?

Zekeland said "This could possibly be the worst bullying scenario , a teacher & student.   Especially since the adult knows better.     I would take your complaint of teacher bullying right to the top. Send a letter to BSD. Then call the education minister and don't stop calling until you get a sit down of at least a chat on the phone.   If the education minister has no interest then take your story to CBC. I'm sure the appropriate people will then address this concern.     Very Terrible if a teacher is preying on a student. I would definitely take your issues to the education minister.     "

If a person was unhappy with how a city crew patched a pothole in front of their house, and felt that the crew was rude to them, would your recommendation be that the person should go directly to the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation or the CBC ?  
 
It is important for all of us to follow channels. It is the next person up the line who generally has the most influence and power to resolve the situation.  
 
The minister of education will not get involved in a teacher-student matter any more than the minister of infrastructure and transportation will get involved in a pothole and road crew matter.  
 
There was no indication in this case that the parent spoke to either the teacher or principal.  
 

BSD will protect their own and they should.  
If this parent is worried about backlash or not being taken seriously, I would for sure take it to the education minister.  
 
We all know BSD decides and makes their own policies, albeit with much public consultation , which they can take into account or not.  
In fact many opinions of the BSD boss are closely related to this topic.  
 
Sometimes issues must be dealt with people above and beyond just to get the issue out in the open. I would anticipate BSD to take this situation serious. And it might end up he said, she said. And of course they will back the teacher.  
 
Many questions arise if BSD is actually for the students or just protecting their own. Their job should be both. Unfortunately there is quite a dispair between the two.  
 
You need to write down as many verbal threats or acts of bullying you can remember between child and teacher. Demand a visit w principle. Then superintendent. If you don't like where it's going then the education minister is next. Let everyone know that you meet with your intentions , maybe some actual action will take place. Don't hesitate!!!  
 
In this day and age, you must go to the top for answers especially on issues of bullying. Most people don't want to believe its happening at their place.

The education minister will get involved in this topic. It may be only a nudge to BSD to clean this up or may have to play a bigger part to resolve the issue.  
A warning to BSD that you may and will take this to higher authorities may actually get something done !!

Hate to say, but there's a lot of hearsay going on, I wouldn't expect to get very far with that. First step I'd take is to talk to the teacher.

Best City in the World said "Thank you Zekeland and zoelog for your input. We have considered going to the top at BSD but unsure who that is now. Never thought of the Minister of Education. As far as drugs and/or achohol there is none in our house as our son no longer leaves the basement long enough to participate in either. We are watching for both. He does tell us of school mates that do use mostly drugs and can't understand why they do and no longer hangs out with them. We have considered legal action but makes no sense without concrete evidence. The last statement made by this so called teacher to our son, and I will be politically correct, is he wished harm would come to one of our son's School mates. What kind of teachers are allowed in the BSD? "

you spoken with the teacher and had an adult conversation with him/her and possibly the school Principal?  
 
How old is your son?

Tango123 said "Get your kids out of their bubble and stand up for themselves. This bullying only started a few years ago when kids would not stick up for themselves. If your child is getting bullied,it's either yours as parent or the child has no stones. Which comes back to the parents. I would suggest cracking him or her in the nose. "

Am I reading this right?? Tango123, bullying didn't just start a few years ago! Where have you been? If a child us being bullied, it's not the child's fault and it's not the parents fault for not having stones. Are you suggesting cracking a bullied child in the nose to teach him a lesson??? Wth?