School Punishes Florida Student Who Stuck Up for Bully Victim

Even worse, they're calling HER the bully

Victims and witnesses to bullying are fighting back lately. But they aren't getting the love from the powers-that-be one would expect for a nation gripped by a supposed bullying crisis.

First it was the gay Indianapolis teen who managed to ward off his tormentors with a stun gun his mom equipped him with, currently facing expulsion for actually using it. Now comes the story of an 18-year old Florida girl who's in trouble with her school district for standing up to bullies taunting a mentally challenged fellow student during the group's daily bus ride.

Erica Ritz at The Blaze reports on the drama pitting a seemingly indifferent school against a vigilant student - or perhaps a student vigilante - who was just trying to stick up for what's right.

"They would be mean to her," said bully-fighter Stormy Rich, "telling her she couldn't sit on certain spots on the bus." After apparently pleading with the bus driver and the school to do something about the ongoing cruelty - which included putting food in the disabled girl's mouth that Rich quickly advised her to spit out - it was Rich herself that was eventually kicked off the bus for threatening to "handle it."

Indeed, a spokesperson from the Lake County School District told reporters that it was Rich who engaged in bully-type behavior, though no explanation was given for this reverse claim. The school also maintains that the disabled girl in question never complained about any bullying, but somehow that's not surprising if reports of her being mockingly fed by her bus-riding peers are true.

Is it OK for students to take matters of bullying into their own hands?

[ir0nw0lfe]

I have said this before I do not advocate violence as it rarely solves anything. The key to that caveat is rarely. People do not usually do what is right or what is wrong, they choose what is easy. You should always defend those who cannot defend themselves. We only fight for ourselves as a last resort. Sadly there are those in this world who only stop their wrongful deeds when someone stops them. Some men learn by doing, some men learn by reading, and an unfortunate number only learn by peeing on an electric fence. If the girl in this story attempted to stop the abuse of a disabled girl by going through channels and was ignored then I wish her a heavy hand and a strong right hook. Hope she educates those in need of counseling. And if she is held accountable by the school, I would hope the parents of the disabled girl as well as the other parents in the community show the same character Stormy Rich showed and stand up to defend her. If the story is accurate, I'll take 10 more just like her, the country.is in short supply of character.

[Truthinesss]

If handled properly, yes. And I believe this was. There were kids bullying another kid, and she was going to do something if they wouldn't. She did everything right, and if I was in her spot I would've done the same thing. All it takes is one time for someone to learn a lesson. Its good to see that there are still decent kids out there that stand up to things like that.

[stevie]

This reminds of the zero tolerance policy for drugs in schools - which forced some kids to get expelled or punished for having an ibuprofen or aspirin. The original idea was ok, but then it gets twisted and people lose the context for what behavior they are trying to promote and what they are trying to stop.
Bullying is the latest thing that no one is in favor of, but really isn't the huge problem we all make it out to be. Every school has a bully (or two, or three or...). And while that sucks, and we should let kids know its not ok, its no where near the biggest problems that kids or schools face.
At some point in our lives we all deal with a bully. Sooner or later you need to learn how to handle them. Seems like this girl knows how to handle them, especially when no one else seems to want to help. Gold star to her.

[ir0nw0lfe]

Kind of makes you want to say these are life lessons. Pay attention you will see these again.... and again.... and again....how you respond makes all the difference.

[LogicNeeded]

Zero tolerance: When schools don't want to use common sense.

[tigergoddess]

If indeed, she went through the proper channels, and was ignored, she did absolutely the right thing by sticking up for someone who could not stick up for themselves. Isn't that what America is based on? If I were her parents, I would put her in another School. Obviously that one is below her.

[Hiya]

It really depends on the situation. A lot of students are afraid to stand up to bullies and need that extra support.

[Elise]

When a person is being assaulted, as happened with this girl when something was forced into her mouth, and authorities ignore reports of it, then another citizen not only has a moral right but a moral obligation to intervene.

[Janniel]

This story illustrates the laxity of schools in dealing with issues of bullying. The student did the right thing, the handicapped student knew that if they spoke out they would have to pay.

Should students take bullying into their own hands?...yes, of course, as they get little help from school admins that are afraid to offend Billy (or Betty) Bully's parents.

Bully's live by the sword, let them go down by the sword (not literally of course).

[TheLoneRanger]

The 90% socialist monopoly public school system is broken. The atheistic social engineers and politicians who control it want to keep it that way so the rising generation will not know that they have Rights and that these Rights are from God. Take your children out of the schools and teach them at home.

[kkjs32296]

yes it is!!! That is the only way to get a bully's attention! Punishment doesn't work, only beating them ruthlessly does! make them SCARED to do it again!

[serialjoe]

The kid with the tazer is a moron. The Girl standing up for the handicapped kid did the right thing.

[CommonSense]

All that she said was that she would "handle it". There's no inherent implication of violence there. Maybe she meant if the school did nothing she would go to the police. There are laws, harrassment, and sticking food into someone's mouth could even be assault.
The law doesn't stop just because you happen to be at school or on the bus. If it's illegal in the rest of your town it's illegal there too.