topic Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING' in Community Chat

School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

Silver Lotus — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:16:04 GMT

Another little boy is being bullied over his love for My Little Pony—but in this case, his school has taken controversial action. Grayson Bruce, 9, is no longer allowed to bring his My Little Pony backpack to his North Carolina elementary school, he and his mom, Noreen, tellWLOS. Bruce says the school told her son the backpack was a distraction and a "trigger for bullying." But, she notes, that's "like saying a short skirt is a trigger for rape." A Facebook page supporting Grayson has more than 30,000 fans, and more than 5,000 people have signed a petition asking that Grayson be allowed to bring the backpack back to school.

Grayson says kids at school are "taking it a little too far, with punching me, pushing me down, calling me horrible names, stuff that really shouldn't happen." He says the backpack did seem to make things worse. All the school district has said so far: "An initial step was taken to immediately address a situation that had created a disruption in the classroom. Buncombe County Schools takes bullying very seriously, and we will continue to take steps to resolve this issue." (Another North Carolina boy attempted suicide after he was bullied over the same cartoon; WRIC reports that he is now out of intensive care but has suffered brain trauma.)

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

RainyDayGal — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:19:13 GMT

So the bullies win.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

MISERABLE66 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:20:43 GMT

Hey... that kids a Brony! lol

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

SydneyH — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:23:06 GMT

I thought they asked the boy to leave the backpack at home, which I agree with......

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

voyager1980 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:23:28 GMT

OP there's a long thread on this Marp started.""Punishing the victim or avoiding a problem?"" I moved it up for you (:

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

Vamp — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:26:00 GMT

So ridiculous, IMO.

Rather than teach children to be kind to one another, rather than teach them not to judge others, rather than promote the concept of non-gender-based (and culturally imposed) toys, clothing, etc., we tell the kid he can't carry the backpack of his choice?

This school had an opportunity to start opening some minds, and they blew it. You're right, RedCovertibleGirl, the bullies won.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

RainyDayGal — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:26:37 GMT

On 3/18/2014 SydneyH said:
I thought they asked the boy to leave the backpack at home, which I agree with......

I don't think that's fair. The child shouldn't be the one punished here.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

Silver Lotus — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:26:39 GMT

On 3/18/2014 voyager1980 said:
OP there's a long thread on this Marp started.""Punishing the victim or avoiding a problem?"" I moved it up for you (:

This is another case of the same problem.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

Vamp — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:27:10 GMT

On 3/18/2014 SydneyH said:
I thought they asked the boy to leave the backpack at home, which I agree with......

Why? He wasn't hurting anyone and I can't imagine how My Little Pony is offensive. If it's okay for girls, it ought to be okay for boys. And vice versa.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

Silver Lotus — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:27:14 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Vamp said:
So ridiculous, IMO.

Rather than teach children to be kind to one another, rather than teach them not to judge others, rather than promote the concept of non-gender-based (and culturally imposed) toys, clothing, etc., we tell the kid he can't carry the backpack of his choice?

This school had an opportunity to start opening some minds, and they blew it. You're right, RedCovertibleGirl, the bullies won.

I agree.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

tansy — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:27:39 GMT

It's the same boy.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

voyager1980 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:28:37 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Silver Lotus said:
On 3/18/2014 voyager1980 said:
OP there's a long thread on this Marp started.""Punishing the victim or avoiding a problem?"" I moved it up for you (:

This is another case of the same problem.

It's the same one Grayson Bruce

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

Silver Lotus — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:29:36 GMT

On 3/18/2014 tansy said: It's the same boy.

Oh it is? I thought it was a different one. Sorry.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

pinkskates4 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:30:57 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Silver Lotus said:
On 3/18/2014 voyager1980 said:
OP there's a long thread on this Marp started.""Punishing the victim or avoiding a problem?"" I moved it up for you (:

This is another case of the same problem.

Isn't this the same kid - Grayson Bruce?

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

voyager1980 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:32:01 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Dagna said:
On 3/18/2014 Silver Lotus said:
On 3/18/2014 voyager1980 said:
OP there's a long thread on this Marp started.""Punishing the victim or avoiding a problem?"" I moved it up for you (:

This is another case of the same problem.

Isn't this the same kid - Grayson Bruce?

Same one

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

Irshgrl31201 — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:32:24 GMT

I do not agree with that at all and if it were my kid I would not let this go.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

SydneyH — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:36:08 GMT

On 3/18/2014 Vamp said:
Why? He wasn't hurting anyone and I can't imagine how My Little Pony is offensive. If it's okay for girls, it ought to be okay for boys. And vice versa.

They asked him to leave the item at home, which is different than an outright banning. I'd pick my battles if I was this boy's parent, but if they want a battle, looks like they found one........

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

tansy — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:40:33 GMT

On 3/18/2014 SydneyH said:
On 3/18/2014 Vamp said:
Why? He wasn't hurting anyone and I can't imagine how My Little Pony is offensive. If it's okay for girls, it ought to be okay for boys. And vice versa.

They asked him to leave the item at home, which is different than an outright banning. I'd pick my battles if I was this boy's parent, but if they want a battle, looks like they found one........

The boy can carry his backpack to family and other activities. It's not a fight I'd take on and I wouldn't set up my son to be bullied. And, of course, I want the bullies disciplined as well.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

MickD — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:40:36 GMT

If I were that boy....I'd pony myself out...little pony pencils, little pony shirt...just to make an anti-bully statement now.

Re: School Bans Boy's My Little Pony Backpack SAYS IT'S A 'TRIGGER FOR BULLYING'

RainyDayGal — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:41:59 GMT

So much for diversity and acceptance. There is absolutely nothing right about this. They are teaching that it is NOT OK to be different, and that everyone must fit into a mold.

What if a little girl were to carry a GI Joe bag (or something typically carried by boys)? Do you think she would be going through any of this? Doubtful. It seems to me, that females (young and old) are given a lot more leeway in things like this. (Think of women dressing up in their husband's shirts, etc., but men are made fun of if they even want to wear any makeup or nail polish.)

IMO it's just a terrible message to send.