Good Parenting Or Abuse? Mom Made Her Son Wear An "I Am A Bully" T-Shirt When She Learned He's Been Calling His Classmates Names

September 25, 2018

Bullying remains a common problem in almost every school, despite continuous efforts to stop it. But what is the right way to deal with it if your child is the one who’s bullying other kids?

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Texas mom made her son wear a T-shirt with the words “I am a bully”

One mom from Splendora, Texas, found out that her fifth-grader had been calling his classmates 'stupid' and 'idiots'. So the woman decided to teach her son a lesson: She made him go to school wearing a t-shirt with the words “I am a bully” written on it.

The story has been making the rounds on local news. The boy’s mom said his teachers and the school counselor approved her discipline measure. Moreover, her son has already started treating his sister, cousins, and kids at his school better, according to the mom.

Most reactions to her discipline method have been positive. Many praised the mom, saying this is what parents should do to deter their kids from bullying:

However, some disagreed, saying this punishment did nothing but embarrass the boy

Does punishment work to stop bullying?

Bullying isn’t exactly a new phenomenon. Efforts to stop it have been continuing but they haven't always been effective.

Obviously, when children bully someone, they may get into trouble at home and at school. At school, a bully may face suspension, detention, or even expulsion. At home, all kinds of punishments apply, depending on the parent. But punishment alone is not enough to stop the negative behavior.

A punishment that makes a child feel humiliated doesn’t work – it only makes the child resentful and defiant.

If a child who was found to be bullying others faces punishment, it has to be reasonable and proportionate to the misdeed. One common and acceptable discipline method, in this case, is taking away privileges (e.g. taking away the child’s laptop or tablet until behavior improves).

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In addition to being told what’s wrong, the child needs to be taught what’s right. Developing the child’s social skills and helping him or her build positive relationships with peers is what really works. Parents should coordinate their efforts with schools to make that happen.

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Although it may not be possible to stop bullying completely and on every level, we should do what we can do to stop it. The most important thing is to do it right.