DD & other girls being bullied

[RuggerHugger]

Hi,

Looking for some advice on how to tackle this issue with DD's teacher.

DD is in Senior Infants( we are in Ireland, this is the 2nd year of school). This year, one of the Junior Infants classes was split up and 4 children joined my DD's class.

This included a boy who since joining the class has pushed, punched,kicked and thrown stones at some of the girls in the class including my DD. He pick on one girl for a few days and then move on to another girl. He doesn't go near any of the boys and only picks on the girls.

I am aware that other parents have been into the school to complain about this behaviour and I am also aware that he behaved in the same way last year.

The first time he did anything to my DD was on the last 2 school days before the mid-term break - they get a week off school at halloween.

As soon as DD was back in school last week, I spoke to her teacher and told her what had happened. She told me that she knew it was an issue and would speak to the boy again.

He didn't go near DD until yesterday when he pushed her over and then threw stones at her. She told her teacher whose's response was to tell the boy not to do it again.

I am absolutely vivid, as I don't think a very weak "don't do it again" is a sufficient response at this stage. Considering he could have injured DD with the stones, I'm not happy with how this was dealt with.

I've had a look at the schools code of conduct and given that verbal sanctions don't appear to be working, it it unreasonable to suggest to the teacher that they need to move onto other sanctions.

I plan on speaking to the teacher again on Monday and asking her how he was dealt with after I reported the previous incidences and ask how he would now be dealt with given that he is continuing to do this.

I'm also going to make the parents of the other children affected aware that I'm complaining again and encourage them to complain again themselves.

Given that the school makes lots of noises about dealing with bullying, I'm not impressed that his behaviour wasn't effectively dealt it last year when he bullied girls in Junior Infants.

Feel like going in and totally losing the head but know that won't achieve anything. I want to be reasonable - while I might not feel like it - as this boy is only 6 but I want it stopped.

[longgrasswhispers]

Where on earth did he get the stones from? Surely there aren't stones lying around in the school playground?

[RuggerHugger]

Unfortunately, there are stones on the playground. The school has only recently been extended and the building works have just finished.

I found one of the stone's in DD's uniform when she was getting changed yesterday and it was about the size of a 50cent piece, not sure how that compares to UK coinage.

[LynetteScavo]

Firstly they need to clear away the stones!

My DC went to a school where they weren't allowed to play on the playground if there were wet leaves.

The school need to reasure you your child will not be attacked at school. If this child is constantly hurting other children, he needs closer attention. (I'm guessing that the teachers don't actually think sanctions will be effective at moderating his behaviour) But there definately does need to be something put in place to help this boy stop his agressive behaviour.

[RuggerHugger]

I have to say I am concerned that he only focuses on girls, he is only 6 and already seems to know that girls( in general) are an easier target.

DH is very annoyed too, as he pointed out if the stone had hit DD in the eye it could have caused serious damage.

I have a DS who is almost 2, already he knows its not already to hit anyone, how does a 6yr old think is ok to hit a someone.

You know I thought I'd get a few years of DD being in school before I'd have be deal with any of this crap.

Thankfully DD is very good at telling us everything.

I know one of the other girls affected and she is a very shy timid girl and was too afraid to tell on him. It took one of her friends to tell her mum, needless to say her mum is very upset too.