I so loved your show today, i tried to enter contest But!can't upload a picture don't have a clue how. I understand about all the bullying, I have a 11yr.old autistic son who has been bullyed alot and trust me they know me well at the school, after 5 years I finally got it straight and i work for the district in nutritionI'm looking forward to your show tommaro my prayers are with carl's mother. Let me know how I can enter in the stimulas without picture or can I mail a entry with picture. Have a great week! Carla

I am a third grade teacher. I have just ended the best year of my life as far as loving, kind students were concerned. I am fortunate that I teach in an area where most of the students are good kids, especially third graders.

I want to address that I, the teacher have suffered being bullied so much, I got so down, that I actually developed a plan to take my life and leave many letters telling all the bullying I had been subjected to, details of the incidents and the people who did them.

Fortunately, I got some help and got beyond that plan. However, I want to know if other teachers feel they are bullied regularly.

My boss and the assistant to my boss have made it very clear they will make me regret it if I say anything. They deal retributive blows all the time. I have taught for thirty-one years, 28 in this county. I have had very strong assessment test scores among my students. I have been teacher of the year twice. I used to be requested from people on the county level to have their children in my room. Now I am threatened, have lost supposed amendment rights, targeted, publicly humiliated, and never recognized for all the above and beyond I do but quickly reprimanded in front of my students fo the slightest matter. The principal condones and supports such treatment from custodians to office staff.

Teachers are definitely the bottom of the barrel unless they are "connected" in some way. There is no equity or equality among teachers and there is definitely no sincere appreciation or respect for the targeted teachers.

Am I alone in this? As much as I don't want others to suffer the sadness I feel, I hope I am not alone.

Not unlike a child, since I must keep my job, I must tolerate abuse and not tell.

My students are my life. Teaching is my delight. I am far from burned out. I have so many creative though labor intensive ideas to implement each new year with my fresh group of children. I have no family, neighbors, and only a handful of very busy friends. I feel alone in the world except for my darling students. I love the the age of third graders, their receptiveness, their innocence. I love the curriculum I teach and I believe I make it fun for the children to learn. I DO teach KINDNESS every day. In spite of all this, my boss chose me, the most experienced of many third grade teachers to move to another grade I had never taught, and the only grade I had asked NOT to be sent to, to punish me for standing up for another co worker who was targeted and dismissed by him.

I don't want to give up seeing my students as they grow through the next three grades. I don't want to go to a different school as I have had some health problems that make memory issues a problem sometimes, like where I put something. I will retire eventually and until that time my doctors feel I need to stay in a consistent setting to best utilize my talents and experience. So, I must take whatever the administration dishes out. They model bullying of this grandma aged teacher on a regular basis. Shame on them.

Thanks for letting me vent without a co-pay.

Amelia

I saw the show today on Carl, and it's so sad how kids dont realize how being mean can actually cause a kid to fall into a deep depression and want to kill themselves. I have a daughter who was bullied in middle school by the same girl every chance she could. My daughter hated going to school and on the bus and i had to eventually drive her every day to avoid this girl. My daughter is now 17 and quit high school in ninth grade due to her social anxieties she developed after those years in middle school. I should have taken her out back then, but didn't know about the many opportunities they have out there, such as online school which she is currently in and it's the best thing.Any mother out there who has a child being bullied should try this, they have illuminate sessions so they still can talk to other kids, and even meet them, and attend dances etc. Its free as well as free laptop, printer, and other items.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for bringing the subject of Bullying in schools to light on your show. Though it is known to most every school at this stage, I want to share my son's experience, though it does not compare to Carl's story.

My son was bullied 5 years ago in 6th grade. He was a very sweet child, and very non confrontational. It was always a battle for us as parents to teach him to stick up for himself. Some kids are just not built that way, especially if they are dealing with a bulldog type of child that is bullying.

I did bring this to the school's attention and the matter was addressed immediately. My son was talked to and then they interviewed the witnesses first and secondly taked with the bully. Though they took immedidate action, the majority of the bullying was taking place walking home from school. Believe it or not, the school's stand on this part of the bullying was that they could not control what took place beyond school property. The school did not provide bus services for our area because we lived too close to the school, so he did not even have that protection of others around him until he was safely in our neighborhood. After several additional conversations with the school, the child's parents were brought into the picture and though I am not sure what took place at home, it did fix the problem. We were lucky that these particular parents had what you mentioned "compassion" for the situation. Compassion should be taught to adults as well. Sadly, there are so many parents that just can not be bothered, or fathers and even mothers that stand strong for their child showing dominance.
It just breaks my heart to think of what Carl was feeling deep down in his heart. My heart goes out to his mother and his family as well.

As for my sons' situation, I can only hope that as the years have past, as my son is now 16 and 6'3" (which helped his self esteem greatly) there are more extensive solutions for these situations as well as ways to handle the situations that happen on the way to or from school. This just strikes such a nerve within me because the reason that we have these bullies in schools is most likely because of the home environment, lack of family morals, or plainly just "bad seeds".

Sometimes it is difficult to take the time to look at the bully and ask why. There really are reasons why a child is not acting appropriately.

If home life, lack of emotional support, lack of family values/morals, or even mental health issues, are one or all of the underlying problem, the bully child could have little or no chance of becoming anything better. They often run through life getting into trouble.

I agree completely that schools should teach compassion. I think that etiquette would also be an added bonus to each child starting from Kindergarten through grade 12. There are so many things that a child should be taught from the day they leave home to attend school. It all may not sink in right away, but would definately not hurt. Knowing right from wrong in all areas of life can only enhance the quality of life as a whole and hopefully help turn a corner if even half of what children are taught for the cause of humanity is brought into their world as they grow up and become adults, and one day parents themselves.

The story of Carl really hit home for me. I have 2 boys and one who is finishing up his first year of kindergarten. I think every parents biggest worry when there kid starts school is will he be picked on. I agree that this needs to stop. I think though that compassion needs to be taught at home not at school. It is our jobs and parents to mold these children into the types of people we wish them to be. Show them by example and talk to them every day about how important compassion for others is. Do unto others as you would have done unto you!!

i love jenn and i was hoping that jenn. will bring back the other proffessor that left the show and went to his own show.thank you for telling her about what i said.a big fan of yours tooooooooooooooo

ELlen!

Love Jennifer!

Was thinking the other day how fun it would be if I was invited to be an extra on her show!!!!!

I know.. I'm dreaming again... but it could happen!

It would be fun. I could be the lady with the plant in a pot riding an escalator!!! LOL

I've got to say that todays show was one of the best. I am an avid fan of both Jennifers and Chicago. It was such a thrill seeing both. My daughter told me about Ghost Whisperer a couple of years ago and I have been watching ever since. Must get DVD of shows that I have missed. Some of the episodes spook me at times, but I just can't turn away!! Here's to many more years of Ghost Whisperer!!!