Victims Voices
It’s no secret that bringing awareness to anti-bullying and prevention is one of our core purposes. Behind the masks, our members all try to keep an eye on their local communities as well as the online one. In just such a situation recently, I had the chance to speak with several local high school students from my community.
When we hear the voices of those directly affected by a negative situation over our own preconceived notions, we find our way to the root of any problem in a much more direct manner. I would like to share with you the words of a high school student identified as “B”. Identifying names have been redacted. This is B’s story:
This is my true and honest testament of [high school]:
“The main issue I find in [high school] is their lack of accountability. Any time things happen no one hears. We’re being told to delete evidence from our devices. To not speak about certain situations. If that may be bullying, racism, drugs, sexual acts, harassment, assault, suicide. I[t]does not matter. They try to save the suicide area by saying “well we have [counseling program].” For bullying we go to our counselors and principals for nothing to be done. They basically write us off. We feel unsafe as students are going after students. Can you blame us? Yes, it is wrong. Unnecessary even. But we are not being heard. That builds anger. Unfortunately, it has to be let out somewhere. And although not appropriate if someone says one wrong thing the wrong student is going to let that frustration out. As a upcoming adult working a job, paying bills, being able to vote. I find it unfair that my voice is not being heard in the space I am supposed to feel safe in. In another aspect if it was my child being exposed to such things going on i would pull them from school. Outside of school after school I understand being realistic you can’t always protect your kids from everything. But inside the school and especially the classroom is absolutely ridiculous. And for someone as a parent to speak up and be silenced is unrealistic. The parent is simply speaking for their child because their child is being silenced. The faculty is lacking in every aspect. There should be no silencing students for the betterment of the image of [high school]. My question to [high school] is if you know it is so bad you don’t want it documented why aren’t you doing anything about it?
I’d also like to add to this that if you’re not an athlete, a parent who pours money into the school, or heavily involved in the school’s programs to make them look better you’re not heard to them you are simply a nobody who’s opinion is not valid. The whole school runs off sports and if you don’t fit into what they expect you to be you will not have a voice in ANYTHING.”
Written by: Alice.in.londini.land
