To have given these kids on the bus a real bollocking?

[Cundtbake]

I'm fuming.

DS and I were on the bus at around half 3 when all the school kids were coming home. The young teens in question were from a school near me and I'm considering also phoning the school and informing them of what happened today.

When we got on the bus these kids were standing up in the buggy area. DS and I sat down near them and another girl, also from the school, boarded the bus. Said girl had Down's syndrome.

The group burst out laughing when she walked past. One of them loudly queried to her friend why she was getting the bus on her own and her mum hadn't picked her up. Another said 'Eugh I didn't know she was on the bus don't let her touch me'. It was a short bus journey but there were continuous glances and giggles and disgusted looks.

We all got off at the same stop and as the girl got off the bus she brushed past someone in the group who proceeded to screech loudly and make disgusted noises.

I lost it and shouted at them all how disgusted I was at their behaviour. I asked if their parents would be proud of them and how dare they treat a human being like that etc etc. I didn't say anything really rude but I was shouting and now I'm wondering if I was OTT as they are someone else's children but I was so upset by what I saw.

Was I being unreasonable? And would it be unreasonable of me to also report to their school?

Love your story greenbananas. It reminds me of when a couple of friends of mine were skiving off school many years ago and witnessed a bank robbery.

Good for you Cundtbake, YANBU. And nice one for filming the bullying Sophia

I'd have done the same and phoned the school at the time too. I would have also tried to make sure the girl got home OK without being further bullied - poor love.

Little shits well deserved a good shouting at.

Their behaviour was disgusting and as teens they're old enough to know better and take responsibility for it. Pleading ignorance or their own problems doesn't constitute any valid excuse in my book.

Well done! I admire what you did! Your family must be proud, and you are a wonderful role model.

I'm not sure if one of my family members with Down's syndrome has ever experienced this, I don't think she would even notice if it happened, but I hope that there would be someone like you to stand her corner if she was ever faced with such vile behaviour.

Good for you op. Welldone for standing up the nasty bullies.
That poor girl.

DS1school recently had a similar incident and a passerby who saw the abuse reported it to the school. The next day they had an assembly about the law on disability discrimination and all parents received a letter about the incident and the consequences for perpetrators. I would report it to the school and hope they take similar action

I agree that ignorance is no excuse.

But I do think these young people are probably capable of being educated, of feeling ashamed of what they have done, and of being more empathetic in the future.

To be honest I don't think the girl actually noticed what was happening, that or she was ignoring it. A few of the girls were quite distinctive so hopefully they will know who I mean. I've sent an email but doubt I'll get a response until after half term (had forgotten about that)

Please ring the school. Those children are horrific little brats and should face some consequences to what they have done.

OP, you were right to berate the girls, and I hope you'll contact the school. I'm more than a bit horrified, though, at posts branding them 'scum' and 'Nazis'. No, they're young people in need of education. I hope someone at school pulls them up sharply and is able to show them how to treat all other human beings with proper respect. However, branding them as less than human themselves isn't likely to do that.

bunbaker, they witnessed a bank robbery? ?? wow, what a nightmare for them! were they able to help the police? Did they get into trouble with the school?

I was a serial skiver myself, so have every sympathy. I did get good grades in the end though. .. When working with young people, years afterwards, I used to tell them that getting the work done wad the important thing.

Sorry to de- rail...

Though actually my work with young people has taught me that even the most offensive and indefensible young hooligans almost always want to be good really, and are willing to listen to reason if you show some respect for where they ate coming from.

It is horrible even trying to understand where the teenagers the op saw were coming from, and she did right to challenge them. But, they will be different people in a few years time, and hopefully they will one day be the folk who challenge discrimination when they see it.

They are disgusting bullies, when confronted, the main leader wasen't even remorseful, carried on laughing with the boys. Yes they are teenagers, almost adults, not 6 year olds, they are responsible for their behaviour. They need reporting to the school.

Good for you op. Nasty kids :(

Of course they're disgusting . Ignorant halfwits. Op, please don't let it go just because it's half term; leave a message on the school answer phone or something. The poor girl is probably so used to it she no longer reacts, I'd be surprised if she doesn't notice, but that's beside the point anyway.
They're ignorant little shits; that they're teenagers is completely irrelevant.
I'd be sick with shame if my kids acted like this, but sadly you may find the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. They get their mean spiritness from somewhere.

Horrible :( YWNBU, well done for doing that. I am a wimp and would never have the guts (I would contact the school, but I could never confront them myself)

This is the kind of shit that 'gives teens a bad name' - most really aren't like this :(

At my high school, many years ago, our deputy head took a particularly firm line with anyone who dared to step out of line. Two incidents I remember were a blind pupil being deliberately misdirected a few yobs into a variety of obstructions. The other was a serious assault on a younger pupil which resulted in his hospitalisation. In the first instance the perpetrators were suspended having received the mother of all bollockings from the deputy head. In the second the deputy head calmly let the police deal with it.

That was over 25 years ago. Who knows what would happen these days. Needless to say the heinous bastards in this thread need a good hiding.

Well done!!! I'm horrified at their behaviour and so pleased you spoke up. Call the school and let them know how these ghastly creatures behaved. Don't question what you did for one moment, any decent person would have done the same.

Something very similar happened to DD a couple of weeks ago. She was going to work and a young man with obvious disabilities got on with 2 older ladies..DD presumed grannies. Some lads, mid to late teens, started taking the mick because he was making noises. DD saw red..marched down the bus and gave them both barrels about manners, treating others decently etc told them the lad was probably laughing at their ridiculous haircuts. They shut up..she sat right behind them... they got off at the next stop...the ladies got up gave her a hug and thanked her and the other passengers clapped. The driver gave her high five. She is 22!!

feckitall I love your dd!!

That is amazing :o

Bless her, feckit, you should be bloody proud . What are the chances of the little scrotes on the bus behaving like that in a few years time?
None at all, because their behaviour isn't (as some people seem to be suggesting) down to being teenagers, it's down to being downright nasty, soulless people. That won't change.

Way to go feckitall dd, wish there more like her out there.

Please report it. At our school we have invited complainants in to look through school pics and identify students concerned, in certain cases.

She was livid!! She rang me when she got home and was still steaming!! She said they were old enough to know better..if they had been younger it may have been just a conversation about kindness but they were not a great deal younger than her. She is not a shrinking violet!!

Yes, I am proud of her!