Were you bullied at school?

[floo]

deleted

[Robbie]

Yes floo I was bullied when I was small & didn't know what to do. Neither did my mum tho' she'd deny it bless her. Teachers weren't interested. It passed, as I got older I wasn't bullied. One of my offspring was bullied at one point, I took it in hand and again it passed.

Teachers were often bullies too, obviously I didn't experience what you did with your headteacher which sounds dreadful, but they had ways and means.There are better guidelines now.

The Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton as was), was bullied at one school and champions an anti-bullying charity. Thank goodness she had good caring parents who took her away from the school when all else failed and put her somewhere that was gentler& she flourished. I applaud them for that but not all have the option.

[Sassy]

I didn't enjoy my primary school years in the 50s as I was bullied. My parents were better off than some of the other parents, whose children came to school in nothing better than rags! I was well dressed and had always something tasty to eat at playtime. I never got to eat it as many of those poor children were hungry and took it off me. I was called names and often hit as well. My father told me to hit them back harder than they hit me, which was a crazy thing to say!

The head teacher had been a pupil teacher before WW1, having been wounded in that conflict, he had been my father's head teacher too. Whether his war experiences had warped his mind, I don't know, but he was a cruel bully to the kids from poor homes. He would beat them black and blue, knowing he could get away with it, he even beat one boy unconscious! 

Thank goodness schools are not permitted to use corporal punishment these days! They also take bullying much more seriously and crack down upon it. Of course it isn't ever going to wipe it out altogether but at least it is better than it was.

It would have been better had your parents put extra in for you to share with the other kids.
Would have made your life and those poorer children much better and a happier experience all around. There is no excuse for the actions of bullies and the teachers actions. I am sure what went around eventually came around. I hope it has not affected you too adversely through the years.

I was blessed at school having elder sisters. No one messed with my second eldest sister she protected everybody.

When I first went from infant to Junior my sister was in her third year. I remember having to remain in at break times because of
waiting for an operation on my ears. I went to get my biscuit money I had left in my coat pocket in the corridor and was accosted by two
girls. One tried to accuse me of stealing from my own coat pocket and the other wanted me to hand my biscuit money over to her.
I was unsure what to do when they threatened me. At that moment someone I did not know popped their head around the line of coats and said to them both. "I would not do that if I were you, that is ****  ****** sister "  The mention of my sisters name caused them to say they were just messing and joking and they walked away very quickly. Hence that was my first experience of my sisters reputation saving me from bullies.
All through her life she protected those who were bullied and could not protect themselves.

Sometimes you have to stand for what is right. We were always taught to share our sweets and treats with others. It mattered not if they shared. It was the way we were raised. What ever  we have or haven't got - is irrelevant, it is how we use what we do have. I believe my mum brought us up right. Sharing is a good lesson. Bullies whether teachers or children should have been raised better.

[Robbie]

sassy - "I was blessed at school having elder sisters. No one messed with my second eldest sister she protected everybody."

That does help, you were blessed & sounds like you were blessed with sensible parents too.

floo- "My father told me to hit them back harder than they hit me, which was a crazy thing to say!"
I was told to do that but not in those words, was told to 'fight it ou't'. A teacher told me that in front of everyone.
I was only five or six,had no idea how to fight. Ridiculous.

[Robbie]

We learn from early experiences though,wouldn't you agree floo? Our parents weren't perfect, probably didnt know what to do. Those with confident parents were lucky,mine weren;t but i don't hold it against them.

Looking back those that were rough and ready fared better but nothing lasts forever.

I expect when you had your own kids they were more adequately equipped than the young you, mine were & i was a more confident parent than my parents.

How did you get on at school when you were older?

[Nearly Sane]

If I didn't stick up for myself it was my problem, according to my father. My mother would have been more concerned about what others were thinking as always.    

I was sent to a fee paying Ladies College at 11 where I had no problem with bullying. My younger sisters went to the prep school at 8, lucky girls!

This reads as if you think bullying does not go on in such establishments?

[Harrowby Hall]

At my grammar school,in the 1950s, the most prominent bully was the head teacher himself. He set the tone for the whole school.There were some teachers who were considerate and friendly, but too many others found it easy to go with the flow, to belittle students, to ignore some students, to hit some students and throw objects at them - in other words, physically abuse students. And because of the prevailing ethos, completely get away with it. Prefects were allowed to administer physical punishment. The school was not a particular joyful place. One of its depressing aspects was its espousal of "masculinity" - for instance, biology was not taught, it was considered a "girl's subject".

His replacement, following retirement, transformed the school. He introduced music and drama, the repressive ethos was abolished and the school started to flourish in a way previously unknown.

[Sassy]

sassy - "I was blessed at school having elder sisters. No one messed with my second eldest sister she protected everybody."

That does help, you were blessed & sounds like you were blessed with sensible parents too.

floo- "My father told me to hit them back harder than they hit me, which was a crazy thing to say!"
I was told to do that but not in those words, was told to 'fight it ou't'. A teacher told me that in front of everyone.
I was only five or six,had no idea how to fight. Ridiculous.

Thank you Robinson, 

My mum and dad were good parents. Our friends use to wish they were their parents. Our parents were strict so it amazed me when our friends loved being at our home.  I think the happiest times were those as children with mum and dad. I do miss them both but I am so grateful to God that I have had such loving and good parents.

[Robbie]

That's heartwarming.
(I hope we are remembered as fondly  .)

[Sassy]

That's heartwarming.
(I hope we are remembered as fondly  .)

We can only do our best and love them and chastise them when necessary.
I have to say I preferred the simplicity of life in the late 60's and the seventies when a child.
As a family we spent more time in communication an sharing. I think we have too much taking up our time now.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

One boy who was bigger than me bullied me for a week.

Then I punched him in the face , during a biology lesson. I made his nose bleed.

He never bothered me again.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

FTR, I have taught both my son, and my daughter, that at school there is always a "Queen Bee", even if boys are involved. It takes courage to stand up to the "Queen Bee", when one has done so, one gains additional respect from one's peers.

[Nearly Sane]

FTR, I have taught both my son, and my daughter, that at school there is always a "Queen Bee", even if boys are involved. It takes courage to stand up to the "Queen Bee", when one has done so, one gains additional respect from one's peers.

Not at the schools i went to

[Humph Warden Bennett]

OK I have to ask. What happened at your school if anybody dared to challenge Number 1?

[Nearly Sane]

OK I have to ask. What happened at your school if anybody dared to challenge Number 1?

I  was saying there was no "Queen Bee"

[Humph Warden Bennett]

My fist worked.

Nobody ever bothered me again.

[Nearly Sane]

My fist worked.

Nobody ever bothered me again.

That's nice for you, but a non sequitur.

[Harrowby Hall]

I don't know whether this should really be considered bullying, but as a very young child I experienced a very nasty example of sex discrimination. Whilst waiting to be admitted for the afternoon session when I was aged about 7, it started to rain. The head mistress appeared. The girls were told to go in, the boys were left outside with no shelter.

[Harrowby Hall]

A couple of points.

1  It was a church school.

2  Girls were believed to be weaker than boys.

Girls were believed to be inherently good ... what are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and all things nice.
                                                                ... what are little boys made of? Slugs and snails and puppy dogs' tails.

And people believed this stuff .... and treated boys and girls completely differently. In any dispute between a boy and girl, the girl would almost always be believed.