Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

School pick and choose what bullying to punish- AIBu to think this is bull?

26 replies

pepsimaxaddict · 25/05/2018 18:57

DD 14 was walking back from school with her friend a few weeks ago. The ‘popular’ girls of the years started teasing them, shouting they’d never been kissed, had a boyfriend, etc... and then started shouting out “frigid wannabe sluts.” Finally, the ring leader threw a stone which hit DD on the back before her friend turned around, shouted “oh fuck off you immature little girls.”

The girls then left.

DD’s friend and DD reported it to the school who said to them, it happened outside of school, we can’t do anything. They didn’t give a shit.

A week later, DD’s friend came across a post on FB referring to the ringleader with her codename, along the lines of ‘xx is making my life hell, really don’t know what to do.’

A few other girls had commented, nothing nasty just ‘she said x to me’ or ‘me too.’ DDs friend commented on the post mentioning what happened to her and DD. This mentioned my DD name and DD was there when friend posted the public reply.

Again, name was not actually mentioned of the bully.

Bullies dad found out, printed off FB comment section, has gone to the school and now all the girls who commented on the post have detention all week and have to go to a bullying workshop. This includes my DD, as her name was mentioned on post and she said she was there when friend posted it.

But fuck all has been done about the actual bully, who again today has bullied DD and friend on the way home, calling them ‘vile sneaky cunts.”

I don’t agree with the Facebook comments, such matters should not be publicly discussed and I’ve told DD this.

But AIBU to think it’s crazy that despite all the girls saying this bully has treated them like shit and multiple reports, the only punishment doled out here is too the victims of the bully?? The head master said to my face straight “there’s no evidence and it allegedly happened outside of campus”

They have 7 girls reporting the bullies behaviour FFS!

OP posts:
ProudThrilledHappy · 25/05/2018 18:59

Can you get in touch with the parents of the other girls and go in to complain as a collective?

It may help your case if they are unable to pass it off as a single instance

redherring4 · 25/05/2018 19:00

Arrange a meeting with the head and the 7 parents.

HighwayDragon1 · 25/05/2018 19:01

She threw a stone at your DD, this is assault and needs to be reported to the police. If another adult threw one at you you wouldn't hesitate to call up. 11 is the age of criminal responsibility, maybe a visit from the old book would shake them up.

jeangeniebiglippedmeanie · 25/05/2018 19:02

I usually support the school as much as I can but on this occasion I would not be allowing my daughter to serve dentention.

  1. she was assaulted and has a witness so I’d involve the police and I’d make the school aware of this
  2. she has no control over someone putting her name on Facebook.

There is no way I’d be allowing my child to be punished regarding this matter

Username12345 · 25/05/2018 19:05

I wouldnt let her do the detention and go and pick her up from the school.

If the teachers said anything I'd tell them exactly what I thought of their actions, or inaction Angry

pepsimaxaddict · 25/05/2018 19:05

I only found out tonight, so I haven’t really thought much about the detention yet. DD was there so had some part in encouraging friend to post, so whilst she’s not entirely innocent I feel like the punishment is overkill.

I’d much rather they had some mediation with the bully...

I need to ring the school, closed now but would IBU to email the head teacher and request another meeting? It’s Friday evening but he checks emails over the weekend

Or should I leave him until Monday?

OP posts:
Idontbelieveinthemoon · 25/05/2018 19:07

Nope, school can't select which behaviours to let go and which to punish for; in this case if they don't want to punish the bully then they won't need to punish the girls she's bullied.

I think sometimes schools back down to irate and angry parents because, in all honesty, they're just unreasonable and in all likelihood the bullies Dad is probably going in there shouting off and going mad so they've given out the detentions to placate him. I'd contact the other children's parents, collectively agree to a plan and go into school calmly and as a unified group to state your case that your children are being bullied by this girl and that if nothing is done you'll be involving the police from this point on. Schools are often tied by what they can and can't do, but this is entirely unreasonable on their behalf.

Gatehouse77 · 25/05/2018 19:08

I agree with others. Rally the other parents around and speak to the school collectively.

Then ask them to explain why one incident was dealt with by them but not the other. I find "Help me to understand" is a great opener because they can't just deflect.

PorkFlute · 25/05/2018 19:10

I can see why the school wouldn’t be dishing out punishments for he said/she said situations outside of school. Your dd made the mistake of being part of something that looks very like bullying and doing it in writing so the school had to act.

SeaToSki · 25/05/2018 19:16

Were the Facebook messages posted by the children while they were at school and using school technology? If (as I suspect not) then that 'bullying' didn't happen at school either and should not be delt with by the school as per their previously stated policy regarding your DD being bullied on the way home

hibbledibble · 25/05/2018 19:19

The school is absolutely rediculous in this situation.

Most schools do consider it their business what pupils do while walking home. I assume they were wearing uniform? If so, then they were representing the school.

I wouldn't say the Facebook post sounds like bullying either.

GreenTulips · 25/05/2018 19:23

The anti bullying policy should include incidents outside school particularly if the girls are in uniform.
See if you can get a copy of the complaints procedure and quote it.

Check the code of conduct for use of technology. Rightly it is covered outside school (but again the other incident should be as well)

I agree with the police (school will have a community police officer - ask the head for details) say in your email any further assaults will be reported.

And do it! Sometimes schools hands are tied and they will thank you for reporting this girl and her cronies

And please don't refer to these girls as popular - they aren't they are shallow little madams

Toomanytealights · 25/05/2018 19:27

If you've got witnesses I'd go to the police anyhow and yes to reading the policy and quoting from it.

I'd also be refusing to allow my dd to do the detention.If the girls were simply discussing incidents when they were bullied they are entitled to do so. That is not cyber bullying and utterly ridiculous.

Notevilstepmother · 25/05/2018 19:32

Whilst I’m very much on your side, your dd was daft to put anything in writing. What the other girl to her did was far worse, but the school can’t do much without evidence.

Toomanytealights · 25/05/2018 19:36

Depends what she wrote though.

Fruitcorner123 · 25/05/2018 19:42

usually support the school as much as I can but on this occasion I would not be allowing my daughter to serve dentention.

^this. I am a secondary teacher and I think you should email him now. He may or may not reply but at least you will feel like you have done something for DD. I second reporting to police and getting in touch with other victim's parents'. Is the bully related to a teacher or governor? I wonder why she is getting such preferential treatment.

Alevel · 25/05/2018 19:44

Email and state that you want to see the bullying policy and the complaints policy. Police if it doesn’t get sorted.

Jamiefraserskilt · 25/05/2018 20:21

Our local school considers events outside school to be punishable if they are in uniform as they are representing the school in the community.
I would use this in your discussion with the head. This is a ridiculous punishment considering no names were given

emmyrose2000 · 26/05/2018 01:24

My child would not be serving the detention.
She would not be attending the bullying workshop.
I would inform the police of the assault with the stone.

It's easy to see where the bully learned her behaviour from with a dad like that.

IDefinitelyWould · 26/05/2018 02:13

So if the bully's name wasn't mentioned, by complaining is the dad not admitting that his daughter did the things described in the post? Otherwise how would anyone know it was her?

There is no way in hell my dd would be attending that detention. I suggest you ask for the bullying policy and the complaints policy and let them know that if action is not taken by the school then you will be reporting the assault and continued harassment to the police.

HelenaDove · 26/05/2018 02:35

ive only read up to this comment

"DD’s friend and DD reported it to the school who said to them, it happened outside of school, we can’t do anything"

and before i read the rest i just wanted to say i sincerely hope they are not policing the uniform outside school hours then.

GlitteryFluff · 26/05/2018 03:33

I wouldn't let me dd to the detention, as others have said.

GreenTulips · 26/05/2018 08:18

So if the bully's name wasn't mentioned

It was as an Alias - kids can set up pages on SM as 'Great Kate' or 'Blackcat'

So DD would know they were talking about her

Have you emailed OP?

WelliesAndPyjamas · 26/05/2018 08:29

Read points 14 to 16 in this government document and then print it, mark the relevant sections in bright highlighter, and send it to your dc's school's Head Teacher and ask for explanations of how bullying outside school was disregarded, as well as of how the targets of bullying were punished for speaking up. You can take it to the governing body if the questions are not answered. Too many schools hide behind the excuse of bullying happening outside school gates (where it is often more intense).

WelliesAndPyjamas · 26/05/2018 08:32

Also print out and use highlighter on any relevant sections of the school bullying and behaviour policy.

Swipe left for the next trending thread