Students and parents talk to Fox59 News about recent bullying at Wilson Middle School in Muncie. School officials say they are investigating, but so far, have not found anything out of the ordinary.
Heather MacWilliamsFox59
12:53 PM EDT, April 29, 2010
Muncie, Ind.
A Muncie 8th grader says bullying at Wilson Middle School has gotten so bad, she's afraid to reveal her identity for fear of retribution.
"I call it prison. Me and my friend call it prison," she told Fox59 News.
Forget name calling or spit balls, the violence she describes is real.
"The kid got a fork out of his pocket and stabbed him in the neck and the police officer grabbed him and didn't arrest him or nothing."
She claims she has been punched, beaten and had her glasses broken. When she told administrators, she said nothing was done.
"They just say stop it."
A seventh grader said he has had similar experiences.
"They're going to kill somebody or they're going to do something to somebody and you tell the principal and they don't do nothing," he said.
The boy claims he's been the target of serious death threats for more than a month now. His mother demanded a meeting with administrators but says it never produced results, so she was forced to file reports with police... Twice.
Her son said things have only gotten worse.
"When I'm walking down the hallway I have to look all around me to make sure nobody's coming."
Principal Gary Brown maintains bullying at the middle school is never violent.
"It's more name calling and that sort of thing," Brown said.
No matter the situation, Brown said each report is always thoroughly investigated.
"We take every situation that's reported very seriously because the student's safety is of the utmost importance," he added.
As far as why so many students are coming forward with allegations of violent bullying, Brown believes its for attention.
"I think any time something like this is made public you have copy cat responses."
It's an answer Lynn Nichols said isn't good enough. She fears the school will need a major wake up call before things start to change.
"Somebody loosing their life, somebody seriously getting hurt. I think that's what it's going to take," said Nichols.
The principal said they have counseling services available to students who've been bullied as well as bully boxes placed throughout the school where students can voice their complaints anonymously. As far as Brown can recall, no student has been expelled at the middle school due to bullying.
"I call it prison. Me and my friend call it prison," she told Fox59 News.
Forget name calling or spit balls, the violence she describes is real.
"The kid got a fork out of his pocket and stabbed him in the neck and the police officer grabbed him and didn't arrest him or nothing."
She claims she has been punched, beaten and had her glasses broken. When she told administrators, she said nothing was done.
"They just say stop it."
A seventh grader said he has had similar experiences.
"They're going to kill somebody or they're going to do something to somebody and you tell the principal and they don't do nothing," he said.
The boy claims he's been the target of serious death threats for more than a month now. His mother demanded a meeting with administrators but says it never produced results, so she was forced to file reports with police... Twice.
Her son said things have only gotten worse.
"When I'm walking down the hallway I have to look all around me to make sure nobody's coming."
Principal Gary Brown maintains bullying at the middle school is never violent.
"It's more name calling and that sort of thing," Brown said.
No matter the situation, Brown said each report is always thoroughly investigated.
"We take every situation that's reported very seriously because the student's safety is of the utmost importance," he added.
As far as why so many students are coming forward with allegations of violent bullying, Brown believes its for attention.
"I think any time something like this is made public you have copy cat responses."
It's an answer Lynn Nichols said isn't good enough. She fears the school will need a major wake up call before things start to change.
"Somebody loosing their life, somebody seriously getting hurt. I think that's what it's going to take," said Nichols.
The principal said they have counseling services available to students who've been bullied as well as bully boxes placed throughout the school where students can voice their complaints anonymously. As far as Brown can recall, no student has been expelled at the middle school due to bullying.
Copyright © 2010, WXIN-TV, Indianapolis
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