As if it isn’t enough that a child would be the victim of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, to then become the victim of bullying. Yes, twice victimized.
A 17-year-old from Pennsylvania had to leave his high school because other students were blaming him for Penn State coach Joe Paterno getting fired after he failed to report an incident of child sexual abuse to police. This 17-year-old was apparently the first victim to come forward and now he is being persecuted.
He has not only had to deal with the sexual abuse he endured when he was around the age of 11 but now he has to leave school in the middle of his senior year. Where is the compassion from other students?
Although this is a situation that goes beyond bullying, being victimized twice is not uncommon for those who suffer at the hands of a bully. Not only does the victim endure the bullying but many times when something is finally done about it, they get it worse.
No matter how a person is victimized, when they try to protect themselves and hold the other person accountable, they are often treated poorly for doing so. It is as if people expect the person to just take what is being given to them…to have no voice.
Throughout the years my oldest son has suffered events of bullying. When he kept some of it from me, it was because he didn’t want me to do something about it. And even when he finally does tell me, it is usually long after the incident has occurred. Why? Because he doesn’t know what the retaliation will be.
It grieves me, the lack of compassion people sometimes have when someone has been a victim. To make them a victim a second time, well, I just can’t wrap my mind around that.
We have to teach our children not only about the wrongs of bullying but the wrongs of being victimized twice. That when kids finally do come forward and share what is going on, that they are not treated poorly for doing so. They need someone to protect them. We need to instill in our children the importance of being that one.
Related Articles:
Talk to Your Teens about Bullying
Bullying Leads to Suicide Pact
Photo by anna gutermuth in Flickr