Bullied boy's parents say West Islip school responsible
Patrick's video:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6xH4kAF68M"]YouTube - Through My Eyes[/ame]
My both my daughters were bullied in school, albeit not to the extreme this boy experienced. We are very lucky to have a school district that is very proactive on the issue and things were resolved quickly.
Is bullying a bigger problem than it was or are we just being made aware of it? I wonder how many kids get no help from their school when things get to the extreme.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-libull135725249jun13,0,2480072.storyPatrick Kohlmann was scared. For more than a year at Udall Road Middle School in West Islip, the soft-spoken 13-year-old had been taunted and shoved, chased through the halls and slammed into lockers.
Then one day last month, Patrick says, one of his regular tormentors said, "I'm going to kill you tomorrow."
The next morning, Patrick's mother says, she warned the school's vice principal about the threat. That afternoon, Patrick says, the bully struck him on the head with a rock.
He suffered a concussion.
"In the beginning, I would just let it happen and ignore it," Patrick says. "Now I scream, 'I want you to keep your hands off me!' and I shove back."
Patrick's parents, Beth and Harry Kohlmann, have filed a notice of claim against the West Islip school district.
Pointing to the school's code of conduct, which prohibits bullying and assault, Beth Kohlmann says: "Why is this continuing? This is about change. ... We want them to say 'We are willing to do the right thing, and make it right.'"
In the month after the attack, Patrick worked for a month on a video to show his teachers.
In the montage, which features pictures he found online, Patrick writes: "I have gone to the school before for help, yet the violence got worse. ... Now I am telling you what is going on ... asking you for help."
Since he posted it on YouTube last week, the video has been viewed nearly 6,200 times. [over 21,000 now]
West Islip school district spokeswoman Nancy Lenz said yesterday the video will be shown to the faculty in the fall.
Patrick says the response to his video has given him more confidence - and new friends. A classmate told him: "If you need anything, just come to me."
Now, Beth Kohlmann is talking to a state legislator about proposed anti-bullying legislation. And Patrick is handing out blue bracelets at school. They say: STAND UP to bullying!
Yesterday, his favorite teacher was wearing one.
Patrick's video:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6xH4kAF68M"]YouTube - Through My Eyes[/ame]
My both my daughters were bullied in school, albeit not to the extreme this boy experienced. We are very lucky to have a school district that is very proactive on the issue and things were resolved quickly.
Is bullying a bigger problem than it was or are we just being made aware of it? I wonder how many kids get no help from their school when things get to the extreme.