A Texas mom recently took a unique approach to address her son’s troubling behavior at school. When she discovered that her son was a bully, she decided to teach him a lesson that he would never forget. The concerned mom, who goes by the name Star, revealed that her son was calling other students names like “idiots” and “stupid.” Determined to make a change, she took a bold step by making her son wear a T-shirt bearing the words “I am a BULLY” to Greenleaf Elementary School, publicly acknowledging his behavior.
Star knew that her son’s bullying reputation had spread among the students, but she wanted to show her support for the victims and make it clear that she believes them. By making her son wear the T-shirt in front of hundreds of people at school and thousands online through her Facebook post, Star aimed to initiate a process of personal apology for her son’s actions.
While Star received some criticism for her drastic approach, she remained steadfast in her decision. “I wanted to know what he learned from it,” Star explained. She shared her conversation with her son, where he expressed remorse for making others feel bad and not wanting anyone else to experience such negativity. Star’s intention was for her son to understand the impact of his actions and grow from the experience, rather than sugarcoat the realities of life.
It’s important to note that professionals in child development generally do not support Star’s method of punishment. A child psychiatrist from Baylor College of Medicine highlighted the potential negative impact of publicly embarrassing a child and reinforcing negative identities, especially at such a young age. The psychiatrist suggested seeking help from the school as a valuable resource.
Despite the criticisms, Star defended her decision, stating that the school district approved of her actions. Splendora ISD shared that parents have the right to make significant decisions for their child. Star’s aim was to bring awareness to her son’s behavior and ensure that he understood the consequences of his actions.
The incident sparked a debate among parents and community members regarding the effectiveness of such punishment. Some may argue that there are alternative methods to address bullying behavior, while others support Star’s tough love approach. What do you think? Should parents resort to extreme measures to address bullying?
