What Happens If You Report School Bullying & the School Does Nothing?

Being the victim of a schoolyard bully can permanently affect a child. The first step in dealing with a schoolyard bully is to contact school administration. Sometimes officials overlook or turn a blind eye to bullying, even after you bring the problem to their attention. Don't give up if the school refuses to diffuse the situation. Learn how to handle a school bully without the assistance of school officials.

Signs and Symptoms

• Your child may not initially tell you about a bully victimizing him at school. Familiarize yourself with the common signs and symptoms of a bullying victim. If you pick up on any of these behaviors, speak with your child immediately. A child experiencing a bully may come home from school with unexplained bruises and cuts, as well as damaged, ripped or torn clothing. A victim may also experience social isolation and withdrawal from social activities, school or schoolwork. A child experiencing sudden bouts of depression, sadness and irritability may also be the target of a bully.

Be Persistent

• Don't give up. Ignoring the bullying or failing to continuously call attention to it can make your child feel like you don't believe her or care about the problem. Speak to different school officials to get your case heard. If you spoke to the principal first, go directly to a teacher, school social worker, guidance counselor or other staff member. Ask other school staff to approach the principal with you again. Two people can often persuade better than one.

Speak With the Authorities

• If the school continues to do nothing and the bullying persists, contact your local police department. Before going to the police department, gather as much evidence of the bullying as possible, such as photos of bruises and cuts on your child, descriptions of stolen items and statements from your child and any available witnesses. The police officer may take a statement from your child, which can lead to pressing charges on the offender. Discuss your options with the authorities and your child before continuing with any charges, as sometimes bullying gets worse when the victim tells an adult.

Seek Legal Counsel

• Visit a lawyer to discuss your options. Most schools, other than private schools, receive funding from the government. As a stipulation of such funding, the school must address all cases of bullying pertaining to civil rights laws. If the predator preys on your child because of race, sex, color, national origin or on the basis of a disability, the school must investigate and address the situation. In the event the school does not investigate, you can choose to take the school and/or the offender to court and sue for monetary gain.