I just saw an article on Time.com saying “a bill was introduced in Congress that would protect all students — including gay or transgender ones — from bullying and harassment and would require schools to report on the prevalence of such harmful activity to the Department of Education each year.” Well, it’s about time.

My daughter was bullied in middle school. She wasn’t gay, transgender, ugly or socially inept. So this bunch of bratty girls were probably just jealous, but obviously that doesn’t make it any less painful to experience. At first I contacted the teacher whose class it was happening in and she said they absolutely do not tolerate that kind of behavior and it would be stopped. It didn’t stop, and it wasn’t just nasty remarks, but also got physical. Then I talked to the principal. He threatened the girls with suspension. Amazingly, even that didn’t work. I went back to him and ask for contact information for the parents. I felt like if we could just discuss it, we could resolve the problem. He said he couldn’t give that out. I suggested a meeting at the school with the parents of the girls involved. He refused. The next time I went in he suggested I just move to a new school district! Awesome management there. Then the ringleader was going around telling kids her dad was going to sue me (he was a lawyer). Okay, that really cracked me up, because I was barely making it and anyway, who was doing what? But, it was all good because after that she absolutely left my daughter alone and that was the result I wanted. If the school had assemblies teaching tolerance and respect for others I think they could help a lot. If parents aren’t teaching their kids what is appropriate behavior then someone needs to. If schools would be willing to allow conferences with parents over issues like this it would help too. I always felt like if I could just talk to the parents there would be no problem. I mean come on, the only thing I was asking was for their little brats to ignore my daughter.

If an adult received that kind of treatment they have the legal recourse of filing harassment charges. Well, I guess I could have done the same but if I had to hire a lawyer I was out of luck to begin with. People have a right to not be harassed. Our children deserve that protection every bit as much as adults do. I hope it passes and I hope schools start programs to educate the kids on how to treat their fellow human beings. Someone needs to and a lot of parents are sure missing that point…but look out if it happens to their kid.