Bully Pulpit

Amysilverman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:11:25 +0000

The other day, one of my closest friends — a woman in many ways far more demure than I — suggested gently that perhaps I shouldn’t blog about certain things.

She was worried because word was out that I’d criticized my girls’ school for allowing the third graders to share recorders during a flu epidemic.

I do see my friend’s point, and when I thanked her for her concern, I really meant it. I know I likely have some readers who perhaps do not have my best interests at heart (you know who you are) or maybe are just a bit overzealous in their grown-up game of “telephone,” but as I told my friend, I stick by my decision to “live blog” Sophie’s experience in public school — at least, some parts of it. (And hey, I’ll throw in a handful of homemade candy corn for good measure.)

The truth is that this blog, like all forms of journalism, is edited. That doesn’t mean it’s not true; it’s just not all-inclusive. I gave my friend a list of examples of things I haven’t mentioned on the blog. She nodded, but I know she’s still worried.

And so I’ll be extra careful, I promise, dear friend, when I blog about the latest turn of events.

This weekend, I heard that Sophie was bullied one day last week during lunch. I know the names of the kids involved (and I know both of those kids well, they are third graders Annabelle’s grown up with) and some other bare bone facts, but not enough to write about yet.

On Sunday night, I did put up a Facebook status update that said: Amy Silverman is trying to figure out what to do with the news that Sophie was bullied at school.

The responses were filled with good advice, commiseration, humor and love. My favorite came from my friend Kathleen:

Am I going to have to open a can of whoop ass on someone? No one, I mean No One, mucks with my Sophie and lives to tell the tale. Bully kid, I am your worst nightmare.

Love it. But with all due respect, Kathleen, I intend to be those bullies’ worst nightmare, and the principal’s, too, if that’s what it takes. Maybe also the district superintendent’s.

I have a meeting with the principal tomorrow morning. Until then, Sophie won’t be going to lunch unmonitored. My mother is at the school cafeteria as I write this, and on her way over she called to say that if she does see those bullies, she’s going to sweetly remind them that she’s been to their classrooms many times, that her nickname is Fairy GAGA — and that who knows, she might just be magic, able to see everything they do. So perhaps they should watch out.

I also intend to shed some light (fairy dust aside) on the situation, in a different way. If there’s one thing my day job has taught me, it’s that keeping secrets (or even just keeping quiet) is good for no one — particularly our kids.

Particularly when that kid is Sophie.

Girl in a Party Hat » kids with down syndrome getting bullied

Bully Pulpit