Report it to the school, demand that it stop and make it clear that if it happens again you will report this to the police. Document every step of the way on this. If the school (and the bus driver as an agent of the school/county/district) do nothing then they will find themselves party to the suit that you file.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go through the school channels and then through law enforcement. Assault IS A CRIME. And it is grounds for a civil suit too. Document, document, document.

This is why our courts are so overcrowded and overburdened and why it takes years for cases to come to trial. Stop and consider. It doesn't matter that "assault" is a crime. Have a sense of proportion.

This is not why our courts are overburdened, moron. They are overburdened because of three strikes laws regarding drug cases. So swing and a miss on trying to sound trendy. One kid punching another is a crime. Whether prosecutors want to proceed is their call. Zero tolerance for this stuff. No parent on this blog--even the meekest of souls--would not pursue all options if schools don't act appropriately.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Child also plans to speak to guidance counselor independently, which we support since he is self-advocating. Not sure what the bus driver observed, if anything. Also, don't know if there are cameras on the bus, or if there is a bus monitor, patrol, etc. The bus is very cliquish as I understand it (and probably not atypical in that regard), 8th graders get back area and don't let others back there, 6th and 7th in different spots. I'm not sure what qualifies as assault, but will pursue any and all avenues to protect child.

If the child was struck intentionally, it was assault and battery. Lawyer up. And you have every right to have your kid report this to the police.

Totally ridiculous. What are her damages? No medical bills. Fantastic court case there.

Anonymous wrote:Go through the school channels and then through law enforcement. Assault IS A CRIME. And it is grounds for a civil suit too. Document, document, document.

This is why our courts are so overcrowded and overburdened and why it takes years for cases to come to trial. Stop and consider. It doesn't matter that "assault" is a crime. Have a sense of proportion.

Do you really think the school wants to deal with this? Then it's all discoverable.

It sounds like your sixth-grade kid wanted to sit further back on the bus, where the 7th and then 8th graders sit. That's a slap in the face against the older kids who paid their dues. Furthermore, it's that hierarchy and "learn your place" system that helps overworked school administrators run a school where there's just not the time to babysit each and every kid.

You want everyone to take care of your kid, but you can't bother to head over to school to pick DC up. So DC gets on the bus, and then expects everyone to be polite automatically. Sorry, that's not how the world works.

Deal with your kid's flaws and social dorkiness; don't make problems for lots of other people because you checked out on parenting and failed to give what DC needs to be cool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Child also plans to speak to guidance counselor independently, which we support since he is self-advocating. Not sure what the bus driver observed, if anything. Also, don't know if there are cameras on the bus, or if there is a bus monitor, patrol, etc. The bus is very cliquish as I understand it (and probably not atypical in that regard), 8th graders get back area and don't let others back there, 6th and 7th in different spots. I'm not sure what qualifies as assault, but will pursue any and all avenues to protect child.

OP, I am a big fan of self-advocacy, but I think that in this case, the parents should also be involved.

Yes, the parents should be, but involve the kid, too. Sometimes we mean well and make things worse.

So sorry this happened to your DC! Please keep us up to date! Follow PPs advice-don't wait and don't talk to the other parents! Which jurisdiction are you in?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't this be assault. Should the police be called?

That would be an overreaction. The bully report should be filed. The child is also self advocating by speaking with a guidance counselor. Hopefully, this will resolve things quickly.

There is a case in Huntington Beach CA where a kid punched another kid (this kid was sight impaired) in HS. The perpetrator was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge and released to his parents.

Different circumstances. At this point, the OP's situation should be handled by the child's school.

How so? The case in Huntington Beach occurred on school grounds. OP's case occurred on the school bus. Just because OP's kid is in MS doesn't mean it's not assault if he was repeatedly punched. Some MS kids are bigger and stronger than me.

Anonymous wrote:Document this in writing. Talk to the principal today - don't wait or it might happen again! Don't talk to the parents.

Yep. Don't wait!

Anonymous wrote:Go through the school channels and then through law enforcement. Assault IS A CRIME. And it is grounds for a civil suit too. Document, document, document.

I agree with this. Not civilly necessary. But it's never ok to put your hands on someone against their will other than self defense. To fail to addres it is to condone it. And perpetuate it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't this be assault. Should the police be called?

That would be an overreaction. The bully report should be filed. The child is also self advocating by speaking with a guidance counselor. Hopefully, this will resolve things quickly.

There is a case in Huntington Beach CA where a kid punched another kid (this kid was sight impaired) in HS. The perpetrator was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge and released to his parents.

Different circumstances. At this point, the OP's situation should be handled by the child's school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't this be assault. Should the police be called?

That would be an overreaction. The bully report should be filed. The child is also self advocating by speaking with a guidance counselor. Hopefully, this will resolve things quickly.

There is a case in Huntington Beach CA where a kid punched another kid (this kid was sight impaired) in HS. The perpetrator was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge and released to his parents.

Was there an on-bus camera system you could check?

How about other kids' cell phones?

what school is this?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Child also plans to speak to guidance counselor independently, which we support since he is self-advocating. Not sure what the bus driver observed, if anything. Also, don't know if there are cameras on the bus, or if there is a bus monitor, patrol, etc. The bus is very cliquish as I understand it (and probably not atypical in that regard), 8th graders get back area and don't let others back there, 6th and 7th in different spots. I'm not sure what qualifies as assault, but will pursue any and all avenues to protect child.

If the child was struck intentionally, it was assault and battery. Lawyer up. And you have every right to have your kid report this to the police.