Bullying over Weight in DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The DCUM bullies here are treating the weight thing as a straw man. If the OP just said "my kid is being bullied" -- would it matter what the reason was? You sound like you're rationalizing the abhorrant behavior because there's a possible weight issues. Maybe a victim is transgender. Somewhere on the autism scale -- at what point is it not ok to blame the victim or the victim's concerned parent.

Whatever a "healthy weight" for this child may be is none of your business. You seriously need to STFU

With the exception of one person, no one is rationalizing the behavior of the students. People are suggesting that in addition to addressing the bullying, the mom address the child's weight issue, which is a separate issue of health, regardless of whether he is bullied about it. BTW, really nice and classy, telling someone you disagree with to STFU. You are a complete hypocrite and definitely not one to preach to anyone about bullying.

I am not the PP, but you are missing the point. Continuing to harangue someone about weight when they have not asked your opinion and you are not the child's physician is, in itself, akin to bullying. This kind of holier-than-thou backseat parenting is deeply offensive. You are modeling the exact same judgmental and hurtful behavior that we are trying to get these middle schoolers to stop doing.

[Anonymous]

Continuing to harangue someone about weight when they have not asked your opinion and you are not the child's physician is, in itself, akin to bullying. This kind of holier-than-thou backseat parenting is deeply offensive.

You may find it offensive, or disagree with it, but it is certainly not akin to bullying.

[Anonymous]

Continuing to harangue someone about weight when they have not asked your opinion and you are not the child's physician is, in itself, akin to bullying. This kind of holier-than-thou backseat parenting is deeply offensive.

Ok, just want to make sure I understand - suggesting that in addition to addressing bullying at school it is indeed the mom's responsibility to address the child's weight issue, if she feels he is overweight, is bullying. Telling someone to STFU is perfectly acceptable. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The DCUM bullies here are treating the weight thing as a straw man. If the OP just said "my kid is being bullied" -- would it matter what the reason was? You sound like you're rationalizing the abhorrant behavior because there's a possible weight issues. Maybe a victim is transgender. Somewhere on the autism scale -- at what point is it not ok to blame the victim or the victim's concerned parent.

Whatever a "healthy weight" for this child may be is none of your business. You seriously need to STFU

With the exception of one person, no one is rationalizing the behavior of the students. People are suggesting that in addition to addressing the bullying, the mom address the child's weight issue, which is a separate issue of health, regardless of whether he is bullied about it. BTW, really nice and classy, telling someone you disagree with to STFU. You are a complete hypocrite and definitely not one to preach to anyone about bullying.

PP here -- your comment was met with the level of disdain it meritted. Your opinion is offensive and I'm comfortable letting you know that. You don't sound concerned about the health of the parent or child. So get off your high horse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bullying needs an audience and 9 times out of 10 the bullying is done in the ear-shot of an adult. As this is February and just being revealed only shows he suffered in silence much too long.

To be named the biggest child in a grade level is not hard at all at this rate of obesity but there's a need to squash the teasing.

Just recently, my child was trying out for a dance team and was told that she was too big for the size 4 uniform. My DD wears a size 5/6 but to be told by the adult sponsor that she was too big, hit a sore spot.

That is shitty, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Continuing to harangue someone about weight when they have not asked your opinion and you are not the child's physician is, in itself, akin to bullying. This kind of holier-than-thou backseat parenting is deeply offensive.

Ok, just want to make sure I understand - suggesting that in addition to addressing bullying at school it is indeed the mom's responsibility to address the child's weight issue, if she feels he is overweight, is bullying. Telling someone to STFU is perfectly acceptable. Got it.

No - telling YOU to STFU is perfectly acceptable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:99.99% of children will be teased-- especially in middle school. That too will pass. Being overweight at 12 actually has lifelong consequences.

No, you stop. Do 99.99% of children request to switch schools because they are being teased? The OP didn't ask for your opinion about her child's weight. She asked about bullying.

Yes, I do thin 99.99% of 7th graders want to be in a different school. I know mine does he he doesn't complain about bullying. The age is horrible, he also would like a new family and just declares the other day he doesn't believe in God. Seriously, they are all over the place. That said OP needs to:

1.) transfer her kid to Deal.
2.) help him maintain a healthy weight.

The two aren't tied together. She offered up the info, we get to comment. Don't want comments, don't offer up the info!

Or option #3, instill self confidence and strong self worth and teach coping skills for bullying.

[Anonymous]

No one knows the real cause of the bullying. The parent may think it's weight related but it can be more complex than that. The parent may be trying to identify a reason, but it could be caused by any number of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing Washington Latin and yes, it has a bullying culture. The administration refuses to acknowledge that it happens and there are plenty of parents who pretend it isn't happening at well.

"My child loooooves riding the bus. It's so much fun." (Yes, your child is a sadistic little twit and enjoys torturing other kids, so it is true, the bus is a joy for him.)

However, it doesn't have to be the norm in middle school. Just get him out of Latin.

Why bash Washington Latin?
When we were in 7th grader at another well regarded charter, my 11 year old (a competitive swimmer and a musician) was constantaly made fun of because of his ethnic nose and his accent ... and that was the least of our problems.

If you like the academics of the school, keep him there, but make sure admin addresses the problem.

[Anonymous]

This is terrible - the story, the abuse the child is taking, and the self-righteous, blaming response of some of the people on this board.

l won't bash Latin or any other charter, but getting back to the original poster's question, I will say that we have been very impressed with our middle school (Hardy) and the atmosphere that is instilled there - kids from all different parts of the city, with all kinds of differing interests and personalities, are happy and accepting of each other.

Original poster - if your school is allowing bullying to happen and is not addressing it, you have every right to demand accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one knows the real cause of the bullying. The parent may think it's weight related but it can be more complex than that. The parent may be trying to identify a reason, but it could be caused by any number of reasons.

This is so true. The bully is likely a little fuck-tard like his parents. Those same people that are scolding OP for her son being "fat."

OP, 7th grade doesn't have to be hell. That's what Capitol Hill parents like to tell themselves when they spend their cash on house renovations and fancy vacations instead of tuition.

Latin sucks. Look into Deal or move or pony up the cash. Your kids deserves it.

[Anonymous]

kid deserves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one knows the real cause of the bullying. The parent may think it's weight related but it can be more complex than that. The parent may be trying to identify a reason, but it could be caused by any number of reasons.

This is so true. The bully is likely a little fuck-tard like his parents. Those same people that are scolding OP for her son being "fat."

OP, 7th grade doesn't have to be hell. That's what Capitol Hill parents like to tell themselves when they spend their cash on house renovations and fancy vacations instead of tuition.

Latin sucks. Look into Deal or move or pony up the cash. Your kids deserves it.

I am going to post a dummy email address so you can contact me and we will be friends.

I love you.

To OP: this exact thing is happening to my son at a DC private that 1. We picked over all others, including inbounds JKLM - deal, and 2. For which we pay $31k a year. Point being, sometimes tweens just suck. Period.

[Anonymous]

Because transfering to Deal will mean that there are no kids there who would ever consider picking on an overweight child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Continuing to harangue someone about weight when they have not asked your opinion and you are not the child's physician is, in itself, akin to bullying. This kind of holier-than-thou backseat parenting is deeply offensive.

Ok, just want to make sure I understand - suggesting that in addition to addressing bullying at school it is indeed the mom's responsibility to address the child's weight issue, if she feels he is overweight, is bullying. Telling someone to STFU is perfectly acceptable. Got it.

Nicely put.

Also, being fat is not just the business of the fat person. If I had a dollar for every time I couldn't sit on the metro because some fat ass (literally) was taking up one and a half seats, I'd be retired. Also, fat people cost more in medical care but don't pay more for their insurance, meaning healthy people subsidize them. And treating fatness as a valid lifestyle results in the uglification of the population, fewer marriageable persons, a shorter lifespan, etc, etc. Being fat is bad, and there's no shame in thinking or saying so.