Bullying in schools is something parents don't want to happen to their kids, but close to one in three children suffer this trauma every year.
One of the latest victims is a 17-year-old autistic student in the Arlington school district, who has not returned to school since she was assaulted last week.
Although she was physically hurt in the attack, it's a continuing fear of being bullied that has kept her out of class -- a fear that Arlington school officials are hoping to change districtwide.
The assault has prompted a school district response to teach an important lesson, and end attacks districtwide.
But those actions are little comfort to Shauetavia Whiteside. She received punches to her face and a bite mark on her arm during a beating outside Sam Houston High school in Arlington at the hands of another student who had been bullying her for months.
"If she would have hit me any harder, she would have punched my tooth out," Shauetavia said.
Her mother, Leslie Coe, was outraged by the attack, saying her daughter "was harassed, sought out and stalked, and now assaulted."
The school district sent a letter home to Shauetavia's mother, saying her autistic daughter was the victim of an "unprovoked assault" that was the result of an "escalation of bullying."
"If a student doesn't perceive to be safe, then they can't learn," said Jimmy Walker, assistant superintendent of the Arlington school district. "That is one of the major impacts on students if they don't feel safe."
The district will not discuss her attack, but Shauetavia's mother said the school district will include details of the beating in a seminar next month, when it will train its assistant principals to better recognize the signs of bullying.
"We want to make sure we're doing everything to keep them apprised of what's going on," Walker said, "and what they need to be dealing with in the form of bullying, and how they need to react to bullying."
Those warning signs were ignored, Shauetavia's mother said. Two weeks before her daughter was attacked, the Arlington mother said she complained to school officials about the bullying.
"I sent my child to be safe in your school to get an education, but you didn't protect her," she said.
District officials said the seminar next month is not open to parents or students. Only school administrators will be allowed to attend the session, designed to better train them to recognize the signs of bullying.
Parents can turn to the Youth Conflict Resolution Center in Dallas, a group organized to help prevent bullying. It teaches teens about anger management and how to handle conflicts.
The center recently unveiled a lapel pin as part of its new campaign to stop violence. Its goal is to send 500 at-risk youth to a special workshop over the next year.
If you're the parent of a bullied child, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises adults to keep a record of when and where the abuse happens.
They also recommend parents talk to their child's teacher. Ask what have teachers noticed, and what they can do to stop it.
Experts also advise parents to never let the school have a joint meeting between your child and the bully. And if the problem continues, help the school develop a bully prevention program.
E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com
