OKLAHOMA CITY -- A metro woman says she's fed up with her granddaughter being bullied at Putnam City North High School. She fears the worst, because it's a topic the girl is reluctant to discuss. "She's shy and it's like she kind of freezes up because she don't want to get into trouble," says Patricia Jackson. Jackson's granddaughter also doesn't want to get hurt by making a big deal about being bullied on the school bus.
The girl says three female students often call her names and try to pick fights. She says it's been happening for years.
"Since it's been going on so long, I'm really scared," Jackson says, "because I don't know what's going to escalate next."
Jackson is afraid her granddaughter will become depressed, or worse, do what an 11 year-old Perkins student did in May... commit suicide because of repeated bullying.
Steve Lindley, Communications Director of Putnam City Schools, says the district first heard about the problem Wednesday morning and is now investigating the allegation.
Officials reviewed school bus surveillance video and say cameras did not catch any obvious signs of bullying between the girls. However, since there are various forms of bullying, they use an incident report form to pinpoint specific types of harassment. Mediation, detention or even suspension could follow, but they'll first try to resolve the problem face to face.
"That assistant principal will meet with these students again today, before they get on the bus, and all four together will talk about what's going on and how we can make everything work."
State Superintendent Sandy Garrett recently wrote in a newspaper column, "the 'kids are just being kids' or 'this happens to everybody' mentality will not solve the bullying problem. Communication is crucial."
Oklahoma has a statewide school safety hotline called Safe Call, which can be used to report potential dangers to students. That number is 1-877-SAFE-CALL, extension OK-1.
The girl says three female students often call her names and try to pick fights. She says it's been happening for years.
"Since it's been going on so long, I'm really scared," Jackson says, "because I don't know what's going to escalate next."
Jackson is afraid her granddaughter will become depressed, or worse, do what an 11 year-old Perkins student did in May... commit suicide because of repeated bullying.
Steve Lindley, Communications Director of Putnam City Schools, says the district first heard about the problem Wednesday morning and is now investigating the allegation.
Officials reviewed school bus surveillance video and say cameras did not catch any obvious signs of bullying between the girls. However, since there are various forms of bullying, they use an incident report form to pinpoint specific types of harassment. Mediation, detention or even suspension could follow, but they'll first try to resolve the problem face to face.
"That assistant principal will meet with these students again today, before they get on the bus, and all four together will talk about what's going on and how we can make everything work."
State Superintendent Sandy Garrett recently wrote in a newspaper column, "the 'kids are just being kids' or 'this happens to everybody' mentality will not solve the bullying problem. Communication is crucial."
Oklahoma has a statewide school safety hotline called Safe Call, which can be used to report potential dangers to students. That number is 1-877-SAFE-CALL, extension OK-1.
