Mom Posts Gut-Wrenching Video of Her Son Being Bullied to Help Start a Conversation
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Creating the right awareness to end school harassment can begin with a student’s video calling out bullying, but in this case, it is a mother’s video that is shedding light on the subject.
On Tuesday, Alice Phillips of Fayetteville, North Carolina posted a Facebook video of her 13-year-old son Chris Skarezyski being verbally and physically harassed on his way home from school. The video was recorded by Chris’ younger brother, Alex.
“Kids are just mean,” Skarzynski told North Carolina television station WDTV. “They call names. It makes me angry. I want to fight but I know better than to fight.”
In the video, Skarzynski tries to protect himself with a stick from a 13-year-old girl who is bullying him. After pleading with her to stay away, the girl taunts and then tackles him. Instead of fighting back, Skarzynski walked away.
As of January 12, the video received over 7,000 shares, before getting pulled from Facebook.
According to the Fayetteville Observer, numerous students throughout the school year have victimized Skarzynski. His mom said she informed administrators at Douglas Byrd Middle School last month, but she said, “they just brushed it off.”
“It’s heartbreaking… I go to bed crying because my kid comes home from school crying on a daily basis because he’s been bullied at school,” Phillips told North Carolina television station WCNC.
After Tuesday’s incident, a police report was been filed and the bully has reportedly been transferred to another school.
According to Stop Bullying, 28 percent of students in grades 6-12 experience bullying every year. The effects of bullying can be detrimental for victims, which is why creating awareness — such as with the bravery of Skarzynski and Phillips — is so important.
“I want other children to know that we’re standing up for them and other kids that get bullied,” Phillips told WDTV. “I’m standing up for all of them.”
Your Daily Dish reached out to Alice Phillips for a comment.
