Posted by Dinah on December 10, 2002, at 17:10:46
In reply to Re: Oddness, quirkiness, etc. and bullying » WorryGirl, posted by Dinah on December 10, 2002, at 16:50:35
Middle school was the major trauma of my life. The scars from that experience will always be with me, although of course things have gotten better, especially with therapy.
Through fifth grade everything was fine. Everyone had their own group of friends and that was fine. There didn't seem to be any need to put down people from other groups. But when I moved to a parochial middle school everything changed. It started four years of hell (it continued through ninth grade), the details of which I have mercifully forgotten. I'd agree with you that girls were the worst at picking up on the oddness. Boys were more live and let live. It would be interesting to find out if the opposite was true for boys who were a bit different.
Tenth grade and a new (private, not parochial) school changed my life. Tenth and twelth grades were the best of my life. If things hadn't changed, I'm not sure I'd still be here. The rageful fantasies I used to have!!!! But I think in the end I would have just killed myself. Through it all there were a few kind girls who made life tolerable.
When I was looking for a school for my son, I made sure to find one with an anti-bullying policy and a conflict resolution curriculum. The tacit complicity of the teachers and other adults was one of the worst aspects. The very people who you looked to for safety were completely aware of what was going on and didn't help in any way.
poster:Dinah
thread:1782
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20021109/msgs/1788.html