Drastic measures

Yesterday I took a drastic step and filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights regarding the treatment of Annabel at school.

Once I went back through my notes of all the things that had transpired and the treatment she had endured I just wanted to cry. It has consistently been an issue. She has been harassed and discriminated against because she is Chinese, I believe.

If Spanish had been her primary language there was plenty of help, but nobody could bother since she spoke Chinese.

Over and over the students have been allowed to pick on her, kick her, spit on her.

In discussing it with a counselor I realized that the "orphanage" mentality is still prevalent because she has also endured additional punishment from the teachers whenever she reported the harassment.

She cried to Grace the other night that she did not want to be labeled a "Mommy's girl" so the kids would not pick on her. Grace was trying to convince her to tell me more of what was going on.

That is another thing that bothers me. I only know about the events she has reported to me. There have surely been so many more.

I tried to go higher through the school district to resolve the issue but was told that I had to fill out a form to request help and the only place that form was available was at the school. When I went to the school they did not know where it was or what I was talking about.

I tried to reach our school board member with absolutely NO response.

This week there were two situations, one by the students, the other by the principal. This is after meeting and assurances that it would NEVER happen again, if it REALLY did happen because they were convinced it was just that she misunderstood.

In going back through my notes I found where the teacher whose class most of the instances have happened in told me on October 30 that due to the language barrier that he could not help her and she just did not understand. Then on November 2 he told me that he had a talk with her and explained that the kids weren't being mean, she misunderstood.

That is phenomenal isn't it? If you have tried to learn Chinese, like I have, after several months of class I gave up. He learned it in 2 days!!!

The counselor also told me she was concerned about lifelong repercussions of the bullying. I can't let this go on.

I had left a message and emailed to the school after what happened Tuesday. I finally got a call back Thursday afternoon asking if I wanted a meeting with the teachers again.

I started to agree then decided that was a waste of time. I have done that over and over. I will meet with the principal and the assistant principal, but also ready to see if the media is interested in treatment of a student whose primary language is not Spanish.

I am thankful we have today to basically do nothing. I always hope that time spent together, especially when Mom and Dad are involved, that we can rejuvenate and recharge her and let her know that she has a family who is here to love and support her.