Mom Gives Public Punishment To Son, 12, Accused Of Bullying

As a child, I received several different types of punishments. The ones that made the most impact were the ones that embarrassed me rather than the ones that hurt. I don't feel that the punishment garnered by the mother was too extreme. She knows her child and which punishment will "get the message across". Kudos to Bertreice!

The court has taken away the rights of parents to discipline their
children and that is why they are monsters today. Some kids are
respectful but others just cross too many boundaries. Growing up we
were taught respect and were disciplined and the garrison belt did not
hurt me or my siblings. We never talked back, we did not make a scene
in a public place and we respected our elders. No drugs, no police
records and we work for a living. We did not have cars when we were
16. And we worked after school jobs and were not paid allowances.
Also discipline should be re-instated in schools. Give them all
uniforms and they won't bully each other about trivial things such as
what you can and cannot afford.

I agree -- bullying is too pervasive these days, and the stakes are too high. I am sure this child thought nothing of the humiliation he inflicted on the child (or children) he was bullying. Not to mention the stolen Ipod. I think this was appropriate punishment for this child.

i was bullied as a child, and twenty years ago i was told that i just had to deal with it. i hated going to school, i was pushed down stairs and into lockers, to the point teachers were even laughing at me. i don't think that a one time punishment was the answer it has to be a constant thing. but i also think children behave differently in front of friends than they do at home. take him to a juvenille center for kids who break the law. take him to a hospital for sick kids and let his excess energy get put to some good. i also think the tears were for the camera, he most likely thought it was fun to be on camera. i have 3 kids and i may not be able to give them everything, i can give them manners and respect for others.

BULLYING AND STEALING ARE SERIOUS AND SHOULD BE TREATED SERIOUSLY. TAKING AWAY THIS KIDS DAIRY QUEEN TREAT OR HIS GAMEBOY FOR A DAY ARE NOT GOING TO FAZ THIS KID. BUT AFTER HIS MOM'S PUNISHMENT, I BET HE WON'T BE BULLYING OR STEALING AGAIN ANYTIME SOON!

High fives for the brave mom!! As a Mom of three boys, I have done the same things to get the point across that NO it's not alright to disrespect someone or their property. Most parents these days have blinders on when it comes to there kid. Oh not my Johnny, Oh not my Lil Angel. These are the parents that are totally dumbfounded when their kid gets into any kind of trouble, and are the first to sue you if you think other wise. So CONGRATS to you mom for stepping up!

I appreciate the authors resolve to maintain her children's dignities when punishing them, but I question, "What about the shattered dignity of the victim being a publically humiliated emotional punching bag for a heartless bully?" I am sure the victim shed numerous tears over the treatment he received and no one was there to champion for him.

Bravo for a Mom who is gifting her son with the life lesson of treat others how you want to be treated and for squelching bad behavior with truth and consequence.

I have made my son sleep outside with the statement if your going to act like a bum this is how a bum sleeps and lives. Yes, I gave him food and let him sleep on the back porch under the patio. But no frills......Let me tell you there is nothing more effective for a good kid who starts to make a wrong turn then tough love. I now have a 4 qtr Principles List (HONOR ROLL 4.0 and higher) for two full years. A football player and all around golden boy who everyone loves (teachers say they wish they had 30 more of him in their rooms). So don't judge others because I will take my VERY WELL BEHAVED children to that of some of my friends whos kids I would rather not be around because of their total rudeness and well lack of manners/respect.I know sitting in the corner is not working for my friend and she took away her sons game system (he looked and her and said "I'll just play on the computer then!") WOW looks like she was outsmarted by a 7 year old. To each their own but I know what kids I want my kids to hang around with and what kids I don't. Come on look at your kids with open eyes not rose colored because if they are bothering others chances are your not the rock star parent you think you are.

It wasn't just about an iPod, he is a known bully. There are no programs to stop bullies so it is therefore up to the parents.

In my opinion the police are right to stay out as long as there is no physical abuse involved, maybe a little bit of ole' fashioned punishment is exactly what ALL kids today need, because finding a respectful, obedient child (who's NOT with their parents) is next to impossible with the lack of discipline in the home and the schools. Its the main reason I left teaching!

i agree with you, but i wish the school had put in a more severe punishment....not necessarily police involvment

I do believe more things need to be done about bullying in school, just look at all the school shootings. Most of the stories you hear today about a kid "just snapping" are the result of them be bullied. I am aware that there is NO excuse for those terrible actions, but I do think schools and parents can help break the cycle.

I don't think, I could do such a thing to my child. Embarrasing him to that extent may just now invite a lot of children in his school to make fun of or lable him.

In reality I think most people would agree mowing school property is ambarrasing enough and it sets an example to other children of zero tolerance.

Time outs and witholding toys are for very young children. Food rewards are partially why our children overall are overweight!
There needs to be priase for a job well done and significant consequences for misdeeds in order to raise children effectively.
I have no sympathy for a bully and a thief.
Too many parents don't want to see their child cry and will go to great lengths to avoid this even to the point of blatantly denying incidents that ocurred that they should be ashamed of.
The author of this article referred to going to church and the children having a reward at Dairy Queen afterwards. Was this "reward" for going to church?
The Bibe also states that if you spare the rod then you will spoil the child! I believe this to be support for Corporal punishment.
I see too many children being locked up for criminal behaviors

It's so refreshing to see a parent carry through a consequence to a child's wrongful actions. It is harder to carry through with the punishment than it is to not carry through. He may have been crying but perhaps he will think twice the next time he decides to misbehave. We are not doing a child any good by closing our eyes to the wrong things that they do. It's not being their friend or buddy or being "close" to them. We only lead them to destructive behavior when they're older. We are condoning what they do if there are no consequences. This mother appropriately gave her child the punishment to fit the actions. I commend her. I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing or something similar. I do have good children because they do know the difference between right and wrong and the consequences. They have been taught. This mother is right in teaching her child as well.

You're right that taking a iPod isn't "nothing", but if the school and his mom are trying to handle the situation why call the police? The only thing the police could do is arrest him, take him to the local jail and wait for a judge to release him back to his mom. Then a stupid mistake of trying to act cool in front of his friends (which everyone is guilty of to some degree) would then ruin to some extent the rest of his life no matter what he ever did. He would always have that on his record. Over an iPod. Why is it that everyone wants to just give up on kids today. I don't get that

I just want to know if she's for hire! Mrs. Dixon needs to run for a position within the school board in Little Rock. We need more mother's like herself...those that take an active role in their children's lives and their behavior away from home. I commend her for what she did. If the only thing Montavious had to suffer was a little bit of humiliation at his own expense then the lesson was well worth it! I too was brought up "old school" and I have never forgotten those lessons I was forced to learn as a child...and I've never repeated those mistakes again! Way to go, Mrs. Dixon! Way to go!

I dont know where you come from "ninainindia" but your over reacting...Im 16, Im from the Bronx and Im now living in Miami, Its a normail occurance for a class of 32 to have 20 to 30 I-Pods stolen in a period of about two hours...In some cases kids have gotten their I-Pods stolen wile stealing someone elses...Just remember...Karma...And Paback, Its a bitch...

Thid author and her naive thinking that her form of punishment is going to have much effect is a pitiful joke and the reason we have such poorly behaved kids today. If she thinks that withholding of a treat is going to really have an impact on her kids she's only fooling herself. This mother she writes about is absolutely right in what she choose to teach her son. This whole idea of being too tough on kids that step over the line and hurting others with their actions in so doing is just what has been allowed to permeate ths society with the idea we have to worry about how our kids will feel about their well-deserved punishment. GIVE ME A BREAK!!! If more parents would step-up and put the FEAR OF GOD in these kids we would not have as many social problems as we do. I blame the parents of kids who don't know how to behave properly in public ( you start by teaching them at an early age just what is and is not going to be tolerated at home and ENFORCE IT!!!) and have no respect for the rights and property of others. It's these mamby-pamby worthless parents that are afraid to REALLY EFFECTIVELY DISCPLINE their entitlement- seeking, foul mouthed, poorly behaved, pain in the butt kids. These kids grow up to be the people you run into far too often in everyday life that you just have to shake your head and wonder about. There are some parents out there who are truly doing a good job with their kids, but unfortunately they are too few and far between. They are the ones who are not afraid to land on their kids with both feet and MAKE IT STICK, if the situation calls for it. They are also the ones who don't have to do it very often, or maybe not more than once or twice ever.

I can't believe I'm actually taking the time to comment on something I've seen on the internet, or anywhere else for that matter. I've never done it before, but after reading your thoughts on the discipline this boy's mother subjected him to, I feel compelled to ask if you have ever been bullied? I sincerely doubt it or you would be far less sensitive to the tender feelings of the bully, and would have at least one comment about the feelings of the boy he bullied and stole from. You apparently are not sensitive to the fact that that young man's ego and self esteem were seriously damaged by having been bullied and humiliated, and you can bet he cried many more real tears than the bully. I can assure you that if your child is a bully and receives the discipline you propose, he's not going to stop. When it comes to the personality of bullies, you simply are a bit too naive to be commenting. Sorry.

I applaud the mom in this case. As a youngster raised in a stict
home, if we got into trouble or did not do what we were supposed to do, we not only got punished by those in charge, but double the punishment by our parents and public humiliation was not outside the realm. We were taught by our punishment that if you misbehave in public, you should be punished in public - LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME. We are all grown up, have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and have no crime, bad records, or injury to others in our family. I believe this boy is at a crossroads and he can reap good from this punishment or he can blame his mother from behind bars.

I agree with you. He didn't seem that crushed. I applaud his mom and understand her motive. To reach a kid you have use his currency. I have no doubt he will never forget this lesson!