Letter to the Editor:

I am writing this letter on behalf of my 2 children. They have tried to speak for themselves and no one has listened. You promote a bully free school … Yet when children are bullied you do little to nothing to stop it. For a couple weeks now my children have been bullied and tormented by another student.

First time was on the bus and that boy pulled my daughters hair and ripped her hair clips out and also spit in her face..another child went and told the bus driver who made the child say sorry and put the student in the front seat for what they said would be 2 weeks without being written up. As soon as my kids told me what happened I called the school and they said they would check the tapes….I never heard back.

Then this same student bullied my son by elbowing him multiple times in the stomach and shoving him into the door on the way out of the school headed to the buses… I ask where were the teachers??? He told me as soon as he got home because he was very upset and I called the school. I talked with the principal who said all he could do is move the student (the bully) to the front of the line. So I let it go again.

Now today Sept 30th my kids get off the bus again upset saying this same student was allowed to sit where the student wanted and was spitting in their faces and calling them nerds. This time I called both the school and the bus barn telling them how upset I was and saying I want this child, this bully, off the bus. They yet again tell me they will have to review the tapes and get back to me. As I was writing this letter the bus barn head guy called and stated (on the video he could see this child facing my kids but cant tell what the student is doing so all he can do is put him in the front seat for 2 week and if the student does it again then the student is off the bus). I then told him I was writing this letter because that was not good enough! My kids should not be bullied and tormented or afraid to ride the bus. I would like to say that all you guys have taught this bully is the child can get away with bullying others and gets special treatment of sitting up front on the bus. That has taught nothing! where is this bully free school you promote? Shouldn’t children be able to ride the bus without being afraid of being bullied or tormented? I would ask that this child be removed from my children’s bus so they can feel safe. Thank you for your time. I am also sending a copy of this to the papers as I think other parents need to watch out for their kids and stand up! Bullying should not be allowed!

Nicole Gummert

Tama