Bonaire Middle student harassed by teammates

In Houston County, schools have an anti-bullying policy. This allows students to go to school with a higher level of peace in their day; it allows parents to send their children to school without concerns of harassment or discrimination, and it allows the Houston County Board of Education to fulfill some of its key values, such as “safety is our number one priority” and “do things right; do the right thing.” However, some parents don’t feel this policy is being fulfilled to the fullest extent.

Michelle Young, a Bonaire Middle School parent spoke to the Houston Home Journal and reported that her child, a student at the school and an athlete for the Bonaire Middle School baseball team, was harassed by several of his teammates. Young’s son is biracial, which apparently is the driving force behind his targeting. The comments made to her son were derogatory terms and slurs aimed at Black Americans. “They were talking about him picking cotton, calling him the ‘N-word,’ things like that,” she said.

Young explained that these messages began in early May, during one of the team’s playoff games. It wasn’t until days later that she was told what was happening. “A teacher reached out to me and told me what was going on.” Only then did Young ask her son to show her the messages that had been sent to him.

When Young brought her concerns to the school, she said that the school responded by punishing the students with what Young called a “slap on the hand.” “They had their connections taken away for a day,” Young said. She further explained that connections are classes outside of traditional curriculum, such as band, P.E., or theatre.

Young reached out to the principal, who she said, “has done absolutely nothing about it.” The mother has even gone so far as to reach out to the Houston County Board of Education with her concerns, but again, she said it has been to no avail.

Young is concerned that these reparations are not equivalent to the racially based offenses that her son dealt with when his teammates called him slurs. “Absolutely nothing has been done; it is ridiculous.”

According to Young, this problem is not exclusive to her son. She claims that she’s heard from several parents under the Houston County Board of Education who have had similar problems – children who have been harassed by others students with racially charged comments, and it then subsequently being “swept under the rug,” as Young describes.

The Journal reached out to the Houston County Board of Education in regards to these complaints. Deputy Superintendant Dr. Richard Rogers responded, “The Houston County School District follows a progressive discipline plan when handling inappropriate behavior. We do not discuss student discipline matters; however, our school district ensures that situations are handled appropriately. Safety and the well-being of our students are our number one priority.”

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