School bullies -- what to do?

My 6 year old came home today with a scratch on his arm. He said that 2 boys were picking on him and one of them scratched him. He told the bus driver and the driver did nothing, which shocks me to no end because the bus driver loves my son to death.

What do you think would be the appropriate action to take? Should I go down to the boys house and talk to his parent? By the way, the boys were about 12&13 yrs old.

Go to the school?

Do nothing and just pick him up from school??

I dont want to cause more problems for him like "oh your mommy had to come to school" or anything like that.....

Go complain with the principle of school.
The driver should not be so unresponsible.

My son was a bus driver this past year and I passed on to him your problem---he suggested that you complain to the school district first regarding the bus driver-------hopefully there would even be a tape of this incident--some buses carry tapes these days------then of course to your son's school principal--see what happens from there. Good luck and hopefully a happy resolution of problems------nothing boils my blood than kids who are allowed to pick on others-----my students knew that it WASN'T tolerated in my class. The quickest way to get into deep doo-doo in my class was to be a bully and pick on someone or humiliate them. Immediate phone calls went home to parents of children who persisted despite warnings or punishments from me. Always did the trick.

Well see, yesterday I actually talked to the bus driver. He REALLY IS a wonderful man. My son had a girl who was pulling his hair. ya know how they do when they're little. She likes him, she doesnt know how to show it so she pulls his hair. Why do we do that? LOL ANYWAYS.....

I went to the school yesterday and talked to the driver. The same driver as last year and we never had a single problem. He said it's hard to see those things because the kids are so little and the seats are so high so unless they say something to him, he doesn't always see. But said he WILL be talking to that girl !!!!!! He was not at ALL happy about this happening.

So then today my son gets off the bus and has this horrible look on his face and I asked what was wrong and he told me what had happened. He said that he DID tell the driver....but I'm honestly wondering if he heard it because my son's so soft spoken.

I absolutely hate that he's being picked on and it's SO strange because last year he was so popular with the kids. I went to an open house one night and it was like EVERYONE knew him... right on up to the 8th graders and they were fighting to say hi to him.

So why on earth did this change? This boy looked out for him LAST year. Why would he be helping this new kid pick on him????

My son's very smart & uses big words. I'd like to teach him to say "Do you know what disciplinary action is? Cuz if you touch me 1 more time you're gonna find out" *smiles*

And by the way, I appreciate your thoughts.

Oh -- I apologize for a 2nd post -- but as far as the tapes on the bus. We can pretty well rule that out. I think there are a total of maybe 15 kids on the bus. This is a very small district!!!!! Only 10 kids in my sons class.

What advice did you give your son btw? Is this the first time it happened to him? Im with expatgirl: call the parents if it happens again.

I would let the school know about it. Most svchools have a zero tolerance rule now.

as far as the girl goes, i told him to sit AWAY from her. Which he did. I told him the only thing he can do is just to tell the driver. And to sit with 2 of his older friends. One of them took real good care of him last year (like the mean boy did) so he's been sitting with HIM in the morning, but he doesn't ride home..... so I told him to sit with another boy on the way home.

He knows better than to fight back. It's always the kid who hits back who gets caught & gets in trouble... and fighting is NOT the answer.

I told him I will pick him up today & tomorrow and then tuesday he can start riding again. And if it DOES happen again I'll be going down and talking to his parents.

I really don't want to talk to the school about it quite yet. Don't know why but I'm hoping the problem will resolve itself.

rt49andellis said:

My 6 year old came home today with a scratch on his arm. He said that 2 boys were picking on him and one of them scratched him. He told the bus driver and the driver did nothing, which shocks me to no end because the bus driver loves my son to death.

What do you think would be the appropriate action to take? Should I go down to the boys house and talk to his parent? By the way, the boys were about 12&13 yrs old.

Go to the school?

Do nothing and just pick him up from school??

I dont want to cause more problems for him like "oh your mommy had to come to school" or anything like that.....

Click to expand...

Oh yes I would do something about this 12 and 13 they are double his age that is crazy to pick on a 6 year old and they are only doing this because they know that they can run over him go talk to the principle and to the bus driver as well. Gosh this would make me want to go knock some heads off but don't do that. Do you have a older son? That could go tell them bullies that this better not happen again or maybe a cousin?
I am so sorry that this is happening to your son and I hope that you can get it stopped.
Let us know what happens.

Ya know - that's exactly what I said yesterday. Makes me wanna go beat up kids.....

There's really no one around here that he knows. And I honestly just DONT get it. It's gotta be this new kid because the other one was SO nice to him last year. I'm wondering if the little girl that was pulling his hair, and this other boy.... am wondering if they're brother & sister!

rt49andellis said:

Ya know - that's exactly what I said yesterday. Makes me wanna go beat up kids.....

There's really no one around here that he knows. And I honestly just DONT get it. It's gotta be this new kid because the other one was SO nice to him last year. I'm wondering if the little girl that was pulling his hair, and this other boy.... am wondering if they're brother & sister!

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I really don't know but something has got to be done someone of that age picking on a 6 year old is not acceptable at all. I can't even beleive how they could be doing such a thing. I hope that you find the right answer.Let us know what you do.

Well I asked my son about the 2 kids being brother & sister. He said he doesn't know. And I talked to my mom about this and she told me that the driver most likely didn't hear my son telling on the older boys. Said he's SO hard of hearing that it amazes her. I'm sorta wondering how he's allowed to drive a bus if it's that bad. Maybe they figure kids are so rotten today they need half way deaf drivers so that they're not distracted by screaming kids. LOL

Anyways... what we've decided (me, hubby & son) to do is I will pick him up from school today & tomorrow. Then on tuesday when he goes back to school, he'll ride the bus home. If there's another issue, we'll be taking a drive down to the kids' houses and talking with their parents.

That doesn't solve it, we'll be going to the school........which I absolutely dread!!!

Dear rt49andellis,


We're going backwards here. YOU provide transportation so that your son goes to school in a safe manner??? No, no, no-----if these 2 bullies can't stop getting their jollies by romping on a child half their age then THEY should be the ones escorted to school by THEIR parents. Go to the pricipal-----their #1 priority is their students----their academics as well as their safety. Ask what can be done and go from there. Good luck!!!!

Do unto others as they would do unto you!!!


Go to school - march into the principal's office and demand a meeting with the parents of the troublemakers immediately. Then inform the principal that you will contact the school board and the board of education and that the parents of the troublemakers and the school district better have good lawyers!

If it happens again - get an attorney and push their buttons!

Too many parents let their kids get away with it and the schools like to turn the other cheek whenever they can. Hold them all responsible.

Hit the parents int he pocketbook and they will do something with their kids - works everytime!

The parents are too wrapped up in their own lives - make them step up and act like parents when they have to.

You can bet if it was the other way around - you'd need a lawyer!


If the school "talks" that they have a zero tolerance policy - tell them that YOUR zero tolerance policy is more effective!

expatgirl said:

We're going backwards here. YOU provide transportation so that your son goes to school in a safe manner??? No, no, no-----if these 2 bullies can't stop getting their jollies by romping on a child half their age then THEY should be the ones escorted to school by THEIR parents.

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Thank you ... I like the way you put that. Point made! and I never thought of it THAT way.

He didnt ride the bus home yesterday or today and goes back on tuesday. We'll see where things go from there.

I had this problem for two years with my 9 year old. Then when my 3 year old started preschool they rode the same bus and the kid started picking on him. I had enough of it and I went to the school and complained to the bus driver. Nothing happend and nothing was ever done. This year I went straight to the Superintendent and he put my son in a different school and notified the other boys parents of the problem. If the kid who was picking on my son keeps on picking on other children he will no longer be able to ride the bus.

Put your son in a different school? That doesnt seem very fair...but if the problem was solved, I guess it's good enough.

Well - it happened again today. He rode the bus home. He tried to sit in a seat with a kid... and got kicked.......... this is absolute crap & I'll be calling the school tomorrow to set up an appointment..... and will most likely be picking him up from school as well.

rt49andellis said:

Well - it happened again today. He rode the bus home. He tried to sit in a seat with a kid... and got kicked.......... this is absolute crap & I'll be calling the school tomorrow to set up an appointment..... and will most likely be picking him up from school as well.

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Boy I wish that you knew a older kid that could just you know take care of this once and for all. I hope that you can get this crap stopped this is crazy for kids that old picking on a 6 year old just crazy.

Isn't that counterproductive though barbiedoll? She's telling her son it's not okay to bully other kids, but then she has an older kid bully the bullies that are picking on her son. I think that would confuse him more than anything.

rt49andellis, you said that one of the bullies used to be nice to your son? Maybe the reason he's picking on your son now is because the new kid is pressuring him into it...