Would you know a bully if you saw one? We typically think of a bully as a mean child who picks on other kids. We all know that a bully uses various forms of violence and/or intimidation against their helpless victim. Unfortunately, being bullied can leave a scar on an innocent child's soul for life.
What if that bully was a teacher? Would you recognize that bully? We send our children to school believing they will be in a safe learning environment, never suspecting that a teacher would harm our child by breaking the laws that are set in writing to protect them. But when a teacher breaks those laws in the classroom, that teacher is no longer "teaching," she instead is using her title to gain the position to bully at her discretion. Bullying a child, especially one with special needs, is not acceptable and nor should it ever be tolerated in our schools.
In February the Willmar Public School District is going to teach your children about bullying. The name of the program's logo is called "Step up, Take a Stand, Do Not Bully."
How ironic, that the school district wants to teach your children not to bully other students but they will turn a blind eye to a special education teacher that bullies a special-needs child. Read about the bullying tactics this teacher used by logging on to www.education.state.mn.us , click on "Compliance and Assistance" on the right side of the screen, then click on "Recent Court and Complaint Decisions." The complaint is 07-017C. Scroll down to item 62 and start reading from there.
This community is urging you, Supt. Kathy Leedom and Willmar School Board members, that it's time for you to step up and take a stand and not allow this bully to be one of our teachers. No child deserves the kind of treatment that this child endured.
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Thank you to those school employees that did step up and take a stand and reported this bully. You are the real heroes in this tragedy.
Margaret Larson
Willmar
