After a special needs student's plea was ignored because he insisted that his teacher was bullying him in class, he took matters into his own hands and recorded an entire rant. Watch the report here.
It seems that bullying is an extremely touchy and hot topic these days. From celebrity revelations to teen suicides, the matter is an intense concern for parents, students, politicians, the media, and beyond. So, when you hear that a special needs student was being bullied by his very own teacher, you can just imagine how the situation quickly rose to the attention of those who support anti-bullying campaigns.
Julio Artuz attends Bankbridge Regional School in New Jersey. According to reports, he insisted that his teacher was bullying him, but everyone denied his pleas for help. Even his parents couldn't believe Julio's story. That's when Julio decided that enough was enough.
Armed with a cell phone in hand, Julio recorded his teacher's tirade. The video shows Julio asking not be referred to as 'special,' just as a 'normal' kid. The teacher curses, yells, insults, and even gets into Julio's face.
The teacher seen in this video is now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. The school has since released a statement:
'Our school district takes all bullying, harassment, and intimidation allegations seriously. We do not tolerate it. The safety and well being of our students is our first and foremost concern. It is of particular concern when an allegation is made against a teacher. We take great pride in maintaining a healthy, safe and secure educational environment for our students. Immediately, upon notification of a complaint we followed the steps as established by the Board of Education policy for HIB. The actions depicted on the video do not reflect the mission or culture of our school. My comments are constrained by policy regarding personnel and student records.'
How can students learn not to bully each other when adults are committing the same atrocities?
Terra/Marilyn Dominguez
