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Secondary education

Secondary school children and name calling

4 replies

redskybynight · 11/11/2015 12:08

Not sure what forum I should be putting this in... but thought I'd try here.

On some days my 10 year old DD cycles home from her (primary) school by herself. On the last few occasions she's done this a group of boys from the local secondary school have shouted names at her. Understandably DD has found this upsetting and has now decided that she will cycle home "the long way round".

Whilst "the long way round" only adds a few minutes to her journey so is no biggie, I feel bad for DD that she feels forced to do this. The only problem is what on earth I do?

DD does not know who the boys are - she did say they look bigger than DS and his friends (who are Y7) but that hardly narrows it down. I could contact the school but can't see what they can do without names of the children involved, plus I would worry about DD suffering retaliation if a general "don't shout at the primary school children" type communication is put round. If I cycle home with her they likely won't do it, but I don't want DD to feel that I have to be her "body guard".

Or maybe I should just tell her to grit her teeth and keep going and they will be bored soon?

Any ideas?

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Foxyloxy1plus1 · 11/11/2015 12:20

As long as shouting is all they're doing, I think it's part of pre teen/ teen behaviour. That's not to say it's ok, but it happens with groups like that. She can either ignore, tell hem to stop or cycle the long way round. If she ignores, they may get fed up and stop, if she shouts back, they will probably relish the attention and if she cycles a longer way round, she won't have the problem.

You're right, the school probably won't be able to do anything with limited information. Maybe a slightly longer journey is preferable in this situation.

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BarbarianMum · 12/11/2015 22:57

Can you lurk at an appropriate point on the route, catch them at it and(verbally) give them hell.
Or better yet get your dh to do so. It's not acceptable and they really need to be told.

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MummyZELC · 21/11/2015 10:47

I agree with the pp about seeking out these boys yourself. Some kids are just awful, you would hope that their parents would be mortified at this kind of behaviour but unfortunately this is not always the case