Connie O'Brien couldn't believe the state her 9-year-old son, Aiden, was in when he came home from Tolenas Elementary School. O'Brien didn't even think this level of bullying occurred between elementary school students.
"I was absolutely floored that this would happen at his age," O'Brien said.
Aiden came home, ACE bandages around his arm, his face and back covered in bruises. O'Brien believes it's because teachers and adults ignored his cries for help.
"They had hit him so many times in the kidney he had a hard time peeing that entire day," O'Brien said. "Every single adult at school that he encountered to try to get help dismissed him."
O'Brien believes the school handled things so poorly she decided to remove Aiden from the school and transfer him elsewhere.
"The safety and security of students is our top priority. We take these situations very seriously. The school administration is working with the families on the matter," a spokesperson from the district said in a statement.
O'Brien hopes that by sharing her story, she can encourage parents to speak to their children about bullying so they don't have to suffer in silence.
"Talk to your children more than just "how was your day what did you do today?" Push a little bit further," she said.
According to StopBullying.org, these are the signs of bullying:
- Unexplained injury; frequent headaches; stomach aches; faking sickness
- Changes in eating habits; fluctuations in weight
- Difficulty sleeping
- Poor grades; not wanting to go to school
- Feelings of helplessness; decreased self-esteem
- Self-destructive behavior, like running away or self-harming
If you or someone you know is being bullied, please visit StopBullying.org or call the toll free number 1-800-273-TALK.
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