Two Washington parents felt helpless after their 9-year-old child was repeatedly bullied by peers despite complaints to school faculty ― so they used social media to draw attention to their daughter’s story.
Last Thursday, Chanty Andrews, whose child is a fourth-grader at Ardmore Elementary School, posted a video in which her daughter Nasir used placards to share her experiences being bullied.
In the three-minute video, a despondent Nasir, who began attending Ardmore in September, is seen with signs reading, “I was a happy kid until I started school. Kids began to bully me.”
Nasir recollects instances of being punched, choked, isolated and called “servant” and “Nutella” by peers, and having food thrown at her by an office worker.
Nasir told Kiro 7 that when she told a teacher about the “Nutella” incident, she was told the comment was not “racist” and instructed to write the definition of the word. Nasir is a minority at the school, where black students make up only 8.5 percent of the population.
Kiro 7 posted Chantey’s video to their Facebook page Wednesday and it has since been viewed over 5 million times. Nasir has received an outpouring of support.
One Facebook user who makes jewelry even offered to create a necklace for Nasir as a show of support.
How can I become pen pals with #NasirAndrews? That child has been through it and I know the feeling well.
On Thursday, Chantey shot another video of her daughter, but this one had a much different tone.
A smiling Nasir gave thanks to everyone who supported her and gave a special shoutout to someone named Kamara and said she wants to be her friend.
The Andrews have pulled their daughter out of Ardmore and don’t yet know what school she’ll be attending.
In a statement sent to Kiro 7, the school said it was “saddened” by the video.
“We are saddened by the experience shared in the Facebook video you referenced ... the harassment, intimidation and bullying of any student is unacceptable,” the statement said. “In the case you referenced, an investigation into the allegations has been in process.”
Bullying can be an incredibly isolating experience, and many victims feel that they are alone–that something about them, specifically, has brought this on. Explain to your child that bullying is something that can happen to anyone: boys, girls, preschoolers, high schoolers, kids at large schools and kids at small schools. This means there is a large group of people impacted by bullying, and if we all work together, we can certainly make a difference.
DON'T: Suggest They "Just Ignore It"
A common reaction to bullying is encouraging the victim to ignore the bully. "They just want a reaction," people say, and if you deny them the reaction, they'll go away. That's not always the case. Sometimes, when the bully realizes they are being ignored, they can feel a sense of power over their victim that can actually make the situation worse.
DO: Check In Regularly
Asking your child basic questions about their day and their experience at school can help you catch a problem sooner. Ask how a specific class was, or who they sat with at lunch. Ask who is trying out for the team, or who is going to local fair that weekend. These harmless questions tell your child that you care, but they can also help you detect changes in your child's situation that may indicate a bullying problem.
DON'T: Suggest Your Child Stand Up To The Bully
While helping your child prepare a speech or enrolling them in self-defense courses might seem like an empowering solution, you're sending the message to your child that this problem is theirs, and that they have to handle it alone. Instead, discuss what some solutions might be and involve your child in the decision making process.
DO: Set Boundaries Online
The National Crime Prevention Council reports that 20 to 43 percent of middle and high school school students have reported being victims of cyber bullying. Encourage your child to protect themselves by following these two guidelines: 1. Never say or do anything online that you wouldn't say or do in person. 2. Never share any information that you wouldn't tell a stranger.
DON'T: Express Disbelief
While we'd like to think we know everything about our children and their friends, don't express disbelief if they say someone has done something that shocks you. Your child needs to know that they can trust you. Asking them to provide evidence or saying that someone "would never do that" can come across as you taking the side of someone other than your child. Instead, be as supportive as possible and listen to their side.
DO: Encourage Them To Speak Up
A recent study of children ages 9 to 12, showed that 56 percent said that they usually either say or do something to try to stop bullying or tell someone who can help (Brown, Birch, & Kancherla, 2005). Make sure your child knows who he or she can talk to if they have something they want to share, whether that is you, a school counselor, a teacher or a coach.
DO: Discourage Password Sharing
Explain the importance of keeping online passwords private, even from close friends. Your child may be thinking that sharing a password with a close friend is harmless and convenient, but explain that anyone with their password could impersonate them online and embarrass them. If they insist that the friend would never do that, remind them that the friend could share their password, either intentionally or unintentionally, and someone else would have that same power.
DON'T: Take Matters Entirely Into Your Own Hands
While your first reaction may be to protect your child by calling the parent of the bully or confront the child yourself, this is not always a good solution. Not only is this this rarely effective, it may even prove fodder for additional bullying. Your child wants to feel empowered and involved in the solution, so discuss options with him or her and work together to decide on a plan of action.
DO: Be Patient
Your child may be embarrassed or afraid to talk about what is happening to them. This is normal. Rather than pressuring your child into speaking before they are ready, just make it clear that you are willing to listen and be a source of support for them. Once they feel comfortable, they will know that they can open up to you and seek your advice. Better yet, if you've had this conversation preemptively, before a problem arises, your child will know right away that you can be their partner in finding a solution.
DO: Find Resources Online
Green Giant's Raise A Giant site includes a page that lets you read letters other parents have written to empower their children. You can write your own letter and explore their other resources, including videos and sharable infographics. PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center site also has a page with resources like informational handouts, fact sheets, educational toolkits, and the "We Will Generation." You can also browse the video page to see if some of their video resources would be helpful for you or for your child. Green Giant's Raise A Giant site includes a page that lets you write a letter to empower your child, but you can also read the letters other parents have written to inspire your talks with your child.
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