HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - One local family reacts to the viral video of a Tennessee boy saying students poured milk on him and bullied him during school.
Shant'a Miller says she knows the pain of bullying all too well. She shared her story with News 3 on how one of her daughters was brutally attacked 5 years ago after school one day on the bus. She says her 11-year-old at the time was kicked in the head for 17 minutes straight.
“After that day, my daughter was having seizures from 5 out of 7 days a week for almost two and a half years," says Miller.
After many doctor visits, Miller took the initiative to start the campaign Parents Against Bullying Virginia.
Healing by helping, she says the campaign not only helps her and her family get through tough times, but it also provides an outlet for other victims of bullying going through the same, difficult time.
Here are signs to look out for:
- depressive symptoms
- wanting to avoid school
- having lower academic achievement
- experience headaches, backaches, stomach pain
- sleep problems
- poor appetite
- bed-wetting
- high levels of suicide thoughts
- attempted suicide
Norfolk Public Schools also are taking a stand against bullying. They sent News 3 this statement:
Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) takes every instance of reported bullying extremely seriously. The district has put a considerable amount of time and effort into implementing its Anti-Bullying campaign. This includes offering resources and education to staff and students. During the 2010-2011 School Year, NPS established both the Anti-Bullying Hotline and SafeSchools email address to make it easier for incidents to be reported anonymously. That same year, the Anti-Bullying poster campaign began. We sincerely believe that the strategies that are being implemented are making a difference in the lives of our students everyday. NPS remains vigilant in its work to ensure all students are able to learn in a safe and secure environment.
