I'm sorry folks, I find it a little disturbing that some people here are saying that, basically, a 3rd grader shouldn't be allowed to have a backpack with his favorite cartoon character on it. And that, in the end, it's either his fault or his mom's for any grief that he gets. Unreal.

 

Like I said, it makes me believe that many on here would be the ones doing the bullying if they were in his school.

So, you're 9 yo son is out shopping with you and see's a pink skirt...he just loves it and wants you to buy it so he can wear it to school. And you say...?

 

I say wear that shirt, son! Chicks dig pink!

I'm sorry folks, I find it a little disturbing that some people here are saying that, basically, a 3rd grader shouldn't be allowed to have a backpack with his favorite cartoon character on it. And that, in the end, it's either his fault or his mom's for any grief that he gets. Unreal.

 

No one here is faulting the 3rd grader. A parents job is to make good decisions for their kid until they are able to make decisions on their own. In my opinion, this was not a good decision by the parent. is it some earth shattering mistake? Of course not. But lets just say if I had a 9 yo little boy who wanted to take a My Little Pony backpack to school with him, my answer would be "No son, you aren't doing that".

^Curious, why? Would it be because of the fear of ridicule, or would it be because of what it could represent?

I say wear that shirt, son! Chicks dig pink!

 

Skirt Cat...not shirt.

I say wear that shirt, son! Chicks dig pink!

 

Its a skirt, not a shirt.

:thumb: Exactly.

 

By some of the responses in here, I'm thinking quite a few posters would be the ones doing the bullying if they were kids in his school.

 

I hate bullies more than anything else in the world. I especially hate bullies when it comes to MY kids. That is why I would strongly discourage my child from wearing something that I know they would get teased about.

 

Yes indeed. Reprimand the bullies.

Take the administration to task for telling you to keep the backpack at home. (By the way, in no place did I read she was FORCED to leave said backpack at home.)

 

After all that, if your kid still insists on wearing the backpack, let him. But explain that kids just might laugh and point. And he just may not be the most popular kid in school.

 

And if the kid is ok with it, then mommy needs to step away and let it go.

 

And if mommy still needs to find a reason to get several thousand likes on Facebook, then keep on keeping on, Mom! Go Mom!

^Curious, why? Would it be because of the fear of ridicule, or would it be because of what it could represent?

 

Because it very likely could lead to just the same situation that occurred here in this story. School is hard enough and other kids can be cruel enough WITHOUT the parent adding to it. This parent just added to that, again, in my opinion.

Skirt Cat...not shirt.

 

Well, there's a big difference between your son showing up to school in a skirt and wearing a backpack. Apples and oranges to me.

But explain that kids just might laugh and point. And he just may not be the most popular kid in school.

 

And if the kid is ok with it, then mommy needs to step away and let it go.

 

And if mommy still needs to find a reason to get several thousand likes on Facebook, then keep on keeping on, Mom! Go Mom!

 

I do 100% agree with this.

 

If it were my son, I'd get the backpack for him, and I'd explain that some may make fun of him for it, and I'd let him know why. I'd let him know that if he likes it, there's nothing to be ashamed of, and if people are making fun of him for it, they, not him are the ones with issues. I'd let him know that I fully support him and that he should never let anyone but him define who he is, or what he likes, or does, etc. Probably a little deep of a conversation for a 9 year old, but I'd at least try to let him know that no matter what, I'm behind him 100% and will go to war for his right to wear it. :idunno:

So let's excuse the behavior because it's bound to happen if a boy has a backpack like that?

 

Again my example: A scantly clad girl is sexually assaulted..."The sexual assault was bound to happen with a girl dressed that way. She shouldn't have set herself up for that. Her parents shouldn't have let it go that far."

 

See how ridiculous that sounds?

 

You are exactly correct with this post, In a Perfect World. But this isn't a perfect world and if a girl walks down some seedy street in scantily clad clothing she probably isn't going to like the result. Doesn't mean she is at fault but that's the world we live in.

Well, there's a big difference between your son showing up to school in a skirt and wearing a backpack. Apples and oranges to me.

 

Disagree...both are in the same conceptual realm. So, I take it you would say no?

I say wear that shirt, son! Chicks dig pink!

 

I think the quote says skirt.

 

Obviously bullies should be punished and school was silly to ban the backpack. But why does every situation have to have extreme arguments for both sides. I mean who is schocked a bunch of 3rd grade boys aren't open minded about a boy classmate playing with girl toys. I mean some people in here must of been the most open minded non judgemental children ever . ( which I highly doubt). How is anyone shocked that if a 3rd grade boy shows up to school wearing a My little Pony product that another 3rd grade boy might find humor in it .

 

Like I said it DOES NOT EXCUSE bad behavior on the bullies. But I think sometimes a parents job is to protect their child from the cruelness of the world. The kid wasn't mature enough to understand the response he may get from immature classmates. Its his mother job to help him and guide him.

 

Call me old fashioned or behind the times but my 3rd grade son wouldn't be going to school with a my little ponies back pack on .

I'm sorry folks, I find it a little disturbing that some people here are saying that, basically, a 3rd grader shouldn't be allowed to have a backpack with his favorite cartoon character on it. And that, in the end, it's either his fault or his mom's for any grief that he gets. Unreal.

 

My son collected Yu-Gi-oh cards and Pokémon cards. Had a nice collection. He entered 4th grade and when he came home the first day of school that was the end of his collection. My guess is he got to school, found out it wasn't considered cool anymore and got rid of them to fit in. Was he bullied? Did the kids he wanted to hang out with tell him he was stupid or make fun of him for collecting them? My guess is yes. Should i have gone to the school and complain that the other kids should have accepted that he collected them? I do not consider that to be bullied. He had his choice to keep collecting or not. We all make choices, deal with the consequences.

My son collected Yu-Gi-oh cards and Pokémon cards. Had a nice collection. He entered 4th grade and when he came home the first day of school that was the end of his collection. My guess is he got to school, found out it wasn't considered cool anymore and got rid of them to fit in. Was he bullied? Did the kids he wanted to hang out with tell him he was stupid or make fun of him for collecting them? My guess is yes. Should i have gone to the school and complain that the other kids should have accepted that he collected them? I do not consider that to be bullied. He had his choice to keep collecting or not. We all make choices, deal with the consequences.

 

So to answer my question, yes, you only consider bullying physical.