As do I. Factor in I was the first Visually Impaired/Legally Blind Student at my High School, among other Medical Issues, along w/the Principal and more than a few Teachers being as Jon Stewart would say...Douchebags, and that's being extremely polite I might add, about how the other kids took advantage of my limited vision... It is both amazing that I didn't have a complete Mental Breakdown *and/or* end up in a Wheelchair thanks to how many times I had "assisted" trips down the stairs and into lockers.
I always say I did not Graduate High School. I Survived it!!
I also firmly believe one thing. If we really want to make a change in fighting this issue, we need to call it what it is. Bullying is just an excuse word/label AFAIC. I was never bullied. I was Emotionally, Mentally and Physically Abused. Even now I hear people say, "Oh, that's just a normal part of growing up." when this issue comes up. I truly believe if we call it what it is, abuse, then we will finally make headway towards the end of what goes on our schools and Society.
Hopefully William taking on this issue will do just that. The other kids he went to school w/had to have great "delight" in using the details they saw in the papers from The War of the Waleses to make William's life, at the very least, miserable. Add on Diana's tragic death and...
This one issue is one he has intimate knowledge of and can make a very real difference in. I only hope William can, because he is sadly fighting an uphill battle due to how entrenched, in my words, kids abusing kids being a normal part of childhood and school still is in so many people's minds.
I wish William all the luck in the World on this one. We've lost too many due to what having to deal day in and day out w/the sheer Hell school is for them. This has to end!!
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I had an assistant principal of my high school tell me that if I would have kept my mouth shut, then I won't have any issues. Now, mind you, all I did that time was defend an elderly teacher, in hopes of preventing a prank, which involved the kids hiding under desks in the darkened classroom. I have a visual impairment too, and being in a darkened classroom made me feel extremely unsafe, but when I tried to explain that, along with the fact that the teacher didn't have to teach our class, and could have the last period off, but took us on since we were the advanced placement section, I was told by a classmate that my purpose in life was to be the butt of jokes, and malicious pranks. I sincerely detested school, due to incidents like these, that occurred more often than not. The worst part though, is that people feel that stuff like this builds character, while, perhaps it does in a way, it can also lead to permanent psychological damage. In my case, since the bullying went on in university, then again at my former place of employment, It brought me to a diagnosis of PTSD. I guess for this reason, I always made sure that any bullying in my classroom was nipped in the rear. Now, yes, I had preschoolers, but they can be pretty nasty too. I had a student who enjoyed making other kids cry. According to his parents, he did it to his sister at home too. I cannot tell you how many times I had to pull this boy aside, and tell him in no uncertain terms that he was being hurtful. I think I was even harder in him when he picked on the kids that had a visual impairment, because I never want to see a child go through what I went through. I sincerely hope that with William, and Catherine working to battle this nastiness, something will change. No one, child, or adult, should have to feel physically ill at the thought of going to a place that is supposed to be safe.
Are there any kids who aren't bullied? I don't know that I have ever met someone who wasn't in some form or fashion.
LaRae
Sadly, today, bullying is everywhere, and due to social media, it can practically follow a person around all day long, with no interruptions. What worries me more, is the fact that this is happening not just in schools, but in places of employment. There's little support for those who are going through this, because many psychologists will sit there, and start telling the person who is bullied that it's his/her social skills that are the issues. Now, what if this person has never been able to form proper social skills due to negative social interactions, and bullying? Where do,we stop with blaming the person who is being hurt, and starting to actually help that person to heal? I don't care what anyone tells me, but bullying/physical/emotional abuse should not be a part of anyone's experience growing up, or beyond. It doesn't build character, but sadly, destroys it. In any case, really looking forward to seeing what this couple will do to make the situation better, even if it's raising awareness, because every little bit helps.
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