Greensboro, NC -- Parents try to do everything they can to protect their kids from bullies. Now, some of them are turning to lawyers for help.
"Some of it, it's like, OK, I can handle this. I'm a big kid. But some of it can get to you and that sucks. You get bummed by it," said Marie Burgess, who is a sophomore in high school.
When Burgess' step-father, who is also an attorney, hears something like that, he knows it's time for a parent to get involved.
"The principals are usually very good about this. Sometimes, they're just not treating it seriously and that's when I get calls from parents," said Pierce Egerton.
Egerton said the parents who have called him in recent years didn't think their concerns for their children and what was going on at school, or on their computers, were being heard by school administrators.
None of the cases Egerton has handled have gone to court. Instead, he's written letters to school administrators to tell them what's going on and how their own rules say they should be handling it.
So far, just those letters on attorney letterhead have been enough.
"It sounds silly, but it makes a big difference. It gets attention. And in these cases, that seemed to be really what was needed to move things forward," he said.
According to Egerton, there are legal steps parents can take.
"You can pursue the individuals involved. And in a lot of cases, bullying needs to be brought to the attention of police because it really does rise to a criminal level," he said.
There have been several cases of bullying in other states that have been left up to judges to decide.
However, while these measures can stop bullying, the problem never really goes away.
"Once these kids are exposed to this level of bullying, it's hard for them to get back into the social mix and feel comfortable there. It really does leave scars," said Egerton.
Egerton said he's received calls from parents whose kids were in elementary school through high school. However, the kids who seem to be affected by bullying the most are middle school students.
"I think it's the most awkward time, and the time when kids are most sensitive. And unfortunately, it's probably the time when most of the bullying goes on," he said.
And the damage is irreparable.
"It's not like punching someone where it happens and you see it and then it's over. It's kind of like, always an emotion," said Burgess.
Reporting/Investigating Bullying Early On
As a parent, you would likely want to resolve the issue before it gets to the point of seeking legal help.
Brenda Elliott, Executive Director of Student Services for Guilford County Schools, explained the process generally followed when bullying is reported in one of their schools.
First, she said a principal will most likely have a parent fill out a detailed form (which can be found in the student handbook and on the GCS website) so the principal can investigate and determine if it's a valid concern.
The principal will talk with the student who is the target of the bullying, any student and staff witnesses, and the accused bully. It's up to the principal, she said, to determine if there's been a violation of the code of conduct and any consequences.
Consequences can range from a parent conference to in-school or out-out-school suspensions. Elliott said they also look at other options, like having students work with guidance counselors to make it a learning experience. They also work with the bullied students to help them become more self-confident.
"I feel really good about the proactive strategies that we're having and particularly the fact that we're not just punishing children, but what are the opportunities to educate children that misbehave so they don't continue to misbehave?" said Elliott.
GCS Harassment, Bullying, or Discrimination Reporting Form
WSFCS Suspected Bully/Cyberbully Reporting Form
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