It Gets Better

I just watched a video on You Tube titled "It Gets Better". Many of you have probably already seen it, the link is on my sidebar.

This video is speaking out to young gay people who are being bullied to the point of suicide, but bullying does not only happen to gay students, it happens to all students. It is heart wrenching that so many young people feel that they have no way out, except suicide. Why is it that the schools turn a blind eye to what is happening? Teachers see these kids 5 days a week!! They spend more time with them than their parents, probably. There is no way that at least one member of the school staff is unaware of the bullying going on right under their noses. Why do they turn their backs on this? Do something!

From personal experience I know that the schools do not want any publicity in regards to problems at their schools. They hide it. I mean if the media knew what was going on at certain schools and published it, what parents in their right mind would want their children to attend any of those schools. Therefore the school's numbers would go down, thus their funding would go down. And what school wants that??? Lets just put the problem under the rug!

My son was bullied at a Catholic high school he attended. He required stitches to his scalp and received a broken nose plus numerous bruises. This happened inside the school, at the end of the day, when all of the students were at their lockers. Where were the teachers? Why did none of the other students step up to help him? Thankfully one teacher heard the noise and stepped in, she was the smallest and most frail teacher at the school. But it should never have been able to happen in the first place!

The student who attacked my son received a suspension. My son pressed charges against him. He was arrested. Yet he was welcomed back to the school. My son refused to go back to that school if the other student was there. I went to the principal and explained this to him. He said there was nothing he could do. I called the School Board and was told there was nothing they could do. I went back to the principal and suggested I should go to the media. Things changed then. Within a few days I was told that the student would be attending another school due to the restraining order he received in respect to my son.

I should have gone to the media! By saying nothing, I changed nothing. I closed my eyes to the possibility that the same thing may happen to another student. By going to the media, the teachers and the School Council would have been aware of what was going on at their school. They had no idea that my son had been attacked, not even his regular teachers knew until they saw his bruises when he returned. The principal kept it quiet, did not share the details with his staff. Tell me, how is that right? This is just one school, can you imagine how many other other attacks are taking place in your city schools that you know nothing about.

So if you are a parent, relative or friend of someone you know who is being bullied or hurt, speak up and speak loud. Don't be timid or afraid. It only takes one voice to make a difference. Your voice will spark another voice, and another. We have got to start speaking out, to make a difference, to save a life. It may not be the life of someone close to you but it will be the life of some other family's child!