Teacher: Hi. Welcome to Parent-Teacher Conference.

Parent: Thanks.

 

Teacher: So, what is your child's name?

 

Parent: It's Megan Jones.

 

Teacher: Megan. Uh, let's see. Oh yeah, Megan. Um, she missed the last couple of days. Has she been sick?

 

Parent: No, she's been having some problems with the other kids in your class, and . . .

 

Teacher: Well, you know, junior high school is a difficult time, but she just needs to speak up a little more in class. I think . . .

 

Parent: No, it's . . . it's more than that. Some of the kids in your class have really been bullying her a lot.

 

Teacher: What do you mean?

 

Parent: Well, um, they've been teasing her a lot about her appearance, and then, the other day, you didn't help things [ What? ] Yeah, she said you made a comment about her clothes.

 

Teacher: What do you mean? I mean . . .

 

Parent: She said you commented on her shirt and jeans, like they were from the 1970s or something like that.

 

Teacher: Well I was just kind of joking a little bit with her.

 

Parent: Well, yeah, that's what you think, but other kids follow your example. In fact, one of the kids took a picture of her with their phone and posted it and had some real nasty comments on Facebook. It was terrible.

 

Teacher: Well, you know, kids can be kids.

 

Parent: No, don't you get it? This is bullying; it's cyberbullying, and adults like you are part of the problem. Forget it. I'm planning on discussing this with the principal tomorrow.

 

Teacher: Oh, wait, wait, wait. Um, uh, oh. I'm sorry if I hurt her feelings [ Yeah. You did! ], but . . .

 

Parent: I get sick and tired of people thinking that a little teasing is okay. Too many kids are killing themselves because they feel that there's just no way to escape this.

 

Teacher: Okay. Well, I guess I need to be a little bit more careful, but . . .

 

Parent: Yeah, you do. I really hope I can get Megan to come to school tomorrow. She's been really, really anxious and depressed [ Wow. ] for some time, and your comments and those that the other kids made haven't helped.

 

Teacher: Wow. Uh, I'm really sorry. Could you see if you can bring her to school tomorrow? Uh, I'd like to apologize and see what I can do to, maybe, improve the situation.

 

Parent: Thanks. I'd appreciate it. That would help.

1. Megan

2. junior high school

3. talk more

4. making fun of her clothes

5. They wrote some awful messages.

6. meeting with the school principal

7. talk to her the next day at school