Mean Girls & Bullying

There is a very big clique in my daughter's seventh-grade class. She isn't part of it and she really doesn't want to be because they are so mean. She does, however, want to get along with everyone.

Unfortunately these bullying girls pick on my daughter. From what she tells me, they are a shallow, self-centered, mean-spirited group of kids that enjoys picking on people. This year she had the misfortune not to have a single one of her friends in some of her classes. She talks to no one in these classes and the clique takes advantage. They make snide comments, give her cold stares, laugh and call her ugly, bark at her and alienate her. She is a pretty and bright girl and it just hurts me so much to see her going through this. I just don't understand it.

The group bullying her in her science class has been one of the worst. When her teacher allowed the children to choose groups, she was the only one left out. She was mortified. I had a meeting with the guidance counselor and the science teacher after this happened. The teacher was able to name my daughter's two biggest tormentors immediately off of the top of his head without me even mentioning them.

It's just heartbreaking how cruel this group of kids is and it seems that they make up a large part of the seventh grade student body. Taking a stand doesn't work when you are just one person and there are seven of them. Still, I have told my daughter that I wouldn't be angry if she got suspended for defending herself, so she knows she has room there, and that I support her.

I have worked with the guidance counselor and she is going to be sure that the worst of the girls are not in any of my daughter's classes next year. But my daughter tells me she doesn't even want to go back to that school! I sent an anonymous letter to the school board and the Superintendent of Schools about bullying, and I'm hoping they will focus on it more next year. We are going to see how things go next year in school and if the bullying continues, we are going to try a private school. I'm hoping we won't have to do that.

It's so unfair. I just want so much for her to feel safe and comfortable in school.