Here is a run down of what you will see in this weeks Sydenham Current Mailbox!
– Poll question results for: “Will you sign a petition regarding the 595 Wallace Street property in Wallaceburg?”
– ICYMI (In Case You Missed It): A Wallaceburg musician has released a new album and has a show coming up locally, Shaun Suisham has put himself in the Steelers records books and the Lambton-Kent Community Sports Field project fundraising is off to an amazing start.
– Hot topic: Wallaceburg family dealing with bullying
– New poll question
POLL RESULTS
“Will you sign a petition regarding the 595 Wallace Street property in Wallaceburg?”
– Yes 50% (24 votes)
– No 33.33% (16 votes)
– Undecided 16.67% (8 votes)
Total Votes: 48
ICYMI
Wallaceburg’s Craig James Laur is coming back home.
The former Creek Street front man will be playing at The Imperial Theatre in Sarnia on October 3rd.
He also has his brand new album “Transit Love” available for fans.
Watch for more on the Current with Craig Laur!
– Craig James Laur playing solo show in Sarnia
ICYMI #2
Wallaceburg’s Shaun Suisham has kicked his way into the Pittsburgh Steelers record books!
Check out Suisham’s accomplishment here: Suisham makes Steelers history in win
ICYMI #3
The community fundraising got off to a great start for the Lambton-Kent Community Sports Field project in Dresden.
See how much was raised, and who is matching the total here: Dresden sports field fundraising off to great start
HOT TOPIC
We told the story about a Wallaceburg family who has been dealing with bullying.
A parent told us about her six-year-old son, who has been dealing with bullying since junior kindergarten.
This is what people are saying about the issue:
upset mom said on the Sydenham Current: “I would just like to add I too am a mother of a 6 year old child who also attends school in Wallaceburg. I can completely relate to this story as I have also been dealing with the same scenarios. Since my son first started kindergarten he was bullied. It went so far as to him being rushed to hospital for some older students grabbing him and throwing him across the gymnasium floor and into a wall. Luckily he was only bruised for this and did not have a cracked skull. The schools form of punishment for the children who did this was next to nothing. That is only one occurrence. My son was also suspended last year due to a fight on the bus. As he somehow was labeled as a bad child so the driver was told to focus their mirror on him. Some kids behind him kicked him in the back of the leg hard enough to cause a welt as well as a perfect shoe shaped bruise. He did end up fighting back that time and he was suspended for it, the other kids again got nothing. He told the school what had happened and why he fought back they did not believe him. My son has gotten to a point now where he acts up constantly at school because he hates being there, and he knows if he acts out enough they will send him home. Every morning is a struggle getting him on the bus and any more I feel guilty sending him. School is supposed to be a fun place for our children to learn, not a place they fear going to due to being bullied and when they try to do the right thing and tell get told they are making up stories. I do agree that parents need to teach their children about bullying and why it is wrong, but I also think the school system should pay better attention when a child tells you there is a problem listen to them. If a student is to be found bullying another student punish them staying in for recess does not fix the issues at all.”
Henrie said on the Sydenham Current: “I see many parents and many groups pushing for anti bullying laws and enforcement. While the thought is commendable, practical application is not. Teachers do not want to get involved for fear of recrimination or having to face angry parents.
My solution has never been a popular one with a certain mindset who are happy to sit around a campfire and sing “Kum-by-ah.” Real life doesn’t work like that.
I was a victim of bullies through most of my days in school. I was the wrong religion, the wrong race, the wrong cultural background… bullies really don’t need an excuse.
When I was 17, I started studying martial arts, and now, 41 years later I teach kids how to stop bullying without having to wait for a teacher to intervene. My students don’t become bullies because we teach them the right way to respond, and thus they are no longer bullied themselves.
I believe everyone has the right to defend themselves from harm. As students gain self esteem and self confidence, bullies tend to leave them alone.
It might not be the answer the ultra liberals are looking for, but speaking from experience, both personal and from years of teaching, my method of dealing with bullies is 100% effective.”
Colette said on the Sydenham Current: “Uhmm? Why NOT she’d light on the SCHOOL involved? Their teachers and Principal are just as much to blame as the children. If something happens to my kids, and they feel threatened enough to tell me,… I’m doing something about it and FAST!! Like C’mon ppl!!! Give ur head a shake. If someone pucks on you as an adult, do u wait until the next time to say something? No. I put an end to it.
Parents have to stop being scared of how they will be perceived. We are taught Bullys are powerless looking for “control”. Put a stop to it. Pick your kid up, teach him Taekwondo, self defence,… Better yet! Have a chat with them.
Do something. If it was Kindergarten, I’d be on high alert.
I’m speaking from experience. You can’t change what u don’t acknowledge.
Poor kid. He needs some positive reinforcement. Buddy him up with a Football player in a higher grade. Something!
I feel bad for his family, but let’s look at tge bigger picture, if u raise enough Hell,… They will think twice next time. :(”
Rustym40 said on the Sydenham Current: “My son was teased relentlessly for the last few years that he was in Grade School. It was one boy who was doing it and he even would trip him once they were off school grounds. My son told the Teacher and the Principal. When I went to the Principal the Teacher told me that it was normal pre-teen chatter.and that he need to learn how to deal with it. They knew that my son has learning disabilities and pretty severe Social Anxiety, he was diagnosed at 10, but they refused to do anything about it and turned it around and said that I neglected him and didn’t provide lunches for him. He had plenty to take for lunch he just refused to eat at school because his stomach was too upset to eat. It was always a struggle and sometimes a fight to get him to go to school and he would always come home angry and crying. My son had a Counselor and even he was not pleased with the way the Principal was dealing with my son’s issues. It seemed every time my son or I brought something to her attention we were told that he had to learn to “Deal with it” She never seemed to try and “Deal” with the bully. Even though the other students in his class as well as other students and teachers in the school told the Principal and myself that he was being bullied. It has been several years now and his High School experience has been a lot better. The boy who used to Bully his approached him the first week of High School and apologized for what he did, but the Principal and the grade 8 teacher never apologized for making the issue worse by not “Dealing” with the bullying.”
Heidi said on Facebook: ” As a mother to a almost 6 year old this is heartbreaking to hear or even imagine! However with that being said I would be speaking with the child’s parents and the school WOULD be doing something about it and honestly I know it may not be the answer but I would also switch my child schools if he had anxiety to that point! I can’t handle my baby being sick let alone imagine sending him back into a lions den! This is sad and something definitely should of been done on the first Incident and I would be pulling my kid out of there for that reason alone!”
Rissa said on Facebook: ” I think going to the media for answers it the wrong approach. Also the public school in wallaceburg that has a child and youth worker has under gone a make over in staff.. Meetings with teachers cyw resource teacher and principal is much mire effective.. If the person wants to protect the identity of the child maybe writting to the paper isnt the best option.”
Mark said on Facebook: “Small towns are the worst for bullying , such a huge divide between family’s with money and family’s without , very sad , nothing new tho I was born in 86 and bullying was very alive when I was in school , now it’s just more public with social media and such outlets , very sad tho , breaks my heart !”
NEW POLL QUESTION
[polldaddy poll=”8327040″]
This poll is also posted on the homepage of the Sydenham Current!
