PD*Poll: Fed-up boy creates bullying video

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts) Jun 17th 2008 10:00AM

Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Health & Safety, In The News, Education

One day a bully told 13-year-old Patrick Kohlmann, "I'm going to kill you tomorrow." Though Patrick's parents warned the school about the threat, the next day Patrick was hit in the head with a rock and received a concussion.

It isn't the first time Patrick's been bullied. In fact, his mother has noted at least 12 serious incidences in the last year. And now Patrick's and his parents are fighting back. They're taking legal action against the school for not doing enough to protect Patrick while he's in their care, despite being repeatedly told where and when the bullying was taking place.

Earlier this month, Patrick tried to showed an emotional video (see it below) he created about bullying to parents and teachers, but was told that it was too graphic and that the meeting he was attending was over. (School officials now say that faculty will see it in the fall). So Patrick put the video on YouTube where it's received over 5,000 hits. He's also passing out blue bracelets that say "STAND UP to bullying" and says that his efforts are making him new friends.

Is Patrick's school district doing enough? They're not allowed to say much because of student privacy rules and litigation, but school spokeswoman Nancy Lenz says, "I know we're being accused of not caring, and nothing could be farther from the truth. We take this very seriously." Not seriously enough to let Patrick show his short, 7-minute (and honestly not-that-graphic) video, apparently.

Watch Patrick's video below, then share your thoughts with us by voting in our poll.

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Comments (48)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

ninainindia 6-17-2008 @ 11:05AM

I don't think the video is too graphic but it's bad quality. There must be professional materials available to make the subject heard, use that.

ltmslov 6-17-2008 @ 5:04PM

I am a teacher, and unfortunately most schools policies are simply pamphlets and bullying surveys, and simple discussions over what types exist. There are no videos that have been used at the schools I have worked at and that is the problem. It allows teachers and students to say that they are dealing with the problem without really evaluating it, deeply discussing it, and facing it head on in the classroom. Students like this young man are a blessing that should be used as examples of real bullying and allowed to speak in whatever manner they can reach out. This video is an inspiration and though it may be from a child and not professional, no professional company dares to place any graphic pictures or real life happenings; they are all too afraid of their materials not being bought to step out and fight bullying head on. I hope this video and videos like it actually make it into the schools.

In our school this year a group of three boys trapped another young man in the bathroom while the ring leader beat him. The beaten boy had to have three plates put in his cheek, and eye socket region where they had been badly broken. The boys were not arrested and only were suspended the last week of school.

Now that is a travesty and that is what this video is meant to prevent!

michelle 6-18-2008 @ 10:17AM

You missed the whole point!!

Caitlin 6-18-2008 @ 1:20PM

He's just a 13 year old boy, cut him some slack.
So what if the video quality wasn't perfect? It's the message that he is trying to portray that matters.

Cecilia 6-18-2008 @ 1:58PM

This was a video seen through a teen's eyes. I hope it makes the adults in this world wake up and take notice. I have 2 kids, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure the bullying that happens to them is taken care of. This is by no means too graphic when it happens to kids IN SCHOOL!

I congratulate you on this video and having the courage to post it. I only hope that it helps YOU and others like you in similar situations.

GOOD LUCK

Jamie 6-28-2008 @ 3:50PM

As for it not being professionally done, the simplicity feels more personal anyway and when you're being bullyied you don't really care how unprofessional something is as long as it gets the message across.

I commend this boy greatly for his courage.

After months of being told "You should go die...yea, that be great" and treated like crap and threatened by various other bullies, I know that I wished someone would notice. And I wasn't helpless either I stood up for myself and teachers thought that I was "melodramatic," parents thought I "exaggerating" but neither of them noticed the bruises and no one understood the fear. I was afraid for my life so once again I commend this boy for his bravery and strength of heart.

Courtney 6-17-2008 @ 11:27AM

The video was very powerful in it's message. I don't think it was too graphic and the one part that could be viewed that way, he warns you ahead of time. With everything on TV and video games, that is very light and there are some parents who let their 5 year olds play those games.

I hope that young man gets the help he deserves.

mj12 6-17-2008 @ 12:48PM

I don't think the video is too graphic and I actually think the fact that it is not professionally done makes it much more compelling.

This young man is very brave and I applaud him for taking a stand.

Pavlina 6-17-2008 @ 1:30PM

To all those who think this video is too graphic, I say wake up and look at the real world. this kind of thing has been happening since the dawn of time. It is human nature. I say that it is the parents responsibility to parent their children. Bullying will happen regardless, but when it gets to the point of physically and emotional trauma, it is an ugly thing. Children need to be told that what they are doing is wrong! I was bullied all the way until I graduated form high school. Never to the degree this poor boy was. I saw some pretty bad things, however. Bad kids rarely occur in a vacuum. Everyone knows they have gone bad, yet nobody does anything. Then the worse happens and we all stand around saying. "what happened."

eugene 6-17-2008 @ 7:04PM

[sarcasm]
But kids bully because they have low self esteem, we can't discipline them because that would only lower their self esteem and make them even worse! We can only love them and hug them and tell them what beautiful and unique snowflakes they are.
[/sarcams]

Heather 6-17-2008 @ 8:21PM

Ok, the video wasn't that graphic, however, I wish people would stop blaming video games.
Yes, bulling is a problem. I have a friend whos daughter has been bullied for quite some time, and has gone as far as trying to get restraining orders on the bullies. The school has done nothing, even though she has told them at least a dozen times, just this past school year. They, the school, was "very conserned", however, when my friends daughter wrote a note to someone saying she would like to kill herself.

A Mom 6-17-2008 @ 8:48PM

I commend this young man and his parents for taking a stand. I know first hand what emotional trauma can occur from bullying. My 12 year old son was hospitalized for an unknown illness that was causing his body to shut down. After missing more than a month of school and spending thousands of dollars, we found out that he was getting bullied on the bus after school every day.

We found out only after another child reported the bullying, bus tapes were pulled, and he was called into the school office to be questioned. The school didn't think I needed to be notified because he had no physical injuries.

The bully was suspended from bus priviledges for one week.

I have yet to get an apology from the bully's parents, and they live four doors down the street.

I say let this young man play his video.

deb 6-18-2008 @ 4:22PM

I don't think video is too graphic,I think it's just what schools need.My daughter has been bullied and has low self-esteem,when someone does something to her she fights back.She is the one to get in trouble and the others get off.The school blames her for everything.Did ya know even the teachers can help the bullying process,by bullying our kids.

Jenni 6-17-2008 @ 10:17PM

Too graphic? I didn't see anything at all that I wouldn't want my child to see; especially for the target age group. I don't even things that the picture that he warns about being graphic is graphis at all.

I would love to hear from the person who voted that it was too graphic and inappropriate. I just want to hear that perspective.

This video is very well done and I think it should be picked up as a tool for all schools to use to teach about bullying. I commend this child for taking a negative situation he is in and turning it into something productive and positive for helping others. His parents should be proud!

LARISSA 6-18-2008 @ 12:10AM

I THINK THE VIDEO SHOULD BE SEEN WORLD WIDE EVERY WHERE THEIR ARE TO MANY KIDS THESE DAYS THINKING THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH BULLING ANOTHER CHILD AND THATS NOT RIGHT AT ALL. I HAVE THREE BOYS AND I DO ANY THING IN THE WORLD FOR THEM IF SOME ONE WOULD TO HURT THEM IN ANYWAY I WOULD DO WHAT IS EVER I CAN TO GET THE KID DOING IT HELP. IT WOULD BE THE PARENTS FAULT FOR NOT HELPING THERE CHILD WITH THERE ANGER PROBLEM. SCHOOLS SEEM TO BE NOT DOING THE PROPER JOB TO STOP THIS THERE SHOULD BE HALL MONITORS IN EVERY SCHOOL WALKING AROUND TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING DURING SCHOOL HOURS. WE AS PARENTS FRIENDS OR JUST ANYONE SHOULD STOP IT IF THEY SEE IT. THE YOUNG MAN WHO DID THE VIDEO PLEASE GET ALL THE HELP YOU NEED DON'T LET NO ONE IN THIS WORLD BRING YOU DOWN WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND WE SHOULD BE TREATED THAT WAY.

Leslie 6-18-2008 @ 8:16AM

Let this young man play his video -- worldwide, if necessary -- for the benefit of those of us who endured bullying in school.

It is NOT too graphic and whoever made the decision that it is should be removed from the faculty of that school and never be allowed to work in the education system again.

Almost all of us were bullied OR KNEW OF KIDS who were bullied in school. Those that got away with bullying in school often grow up to bully as adults, having never learned alternate ways to manage their anger.

I don't give a hoot what makes a bully; I just want them stopped.

Kristy Champaign 6-18-2008 @ 8:54AM

I don't think that video is graphic at all, that is real life and things that are going on in our schools. I think the schools need to open their eyes and SEE what is really going on. No child should be bullied to the point of suicide, or wanting to stop going to school. This is a true fear for kids!

Leslie 6-18-2008 @ 9:15AM

This young man has given a voice to all who have been, and are bullied today. The video is not graphic, it's accurate. Society does not understand the severity of what's happening to these kids. Bullying is not the correct word, we need to start labeling these actions correctly - assault, harrasment, intimidation, extortion (demanding snacks/lunch money) to name a few. It is time to demand action and change. The change has to come from the adults. The police departments need to hold the parents accountable for crimes committed by their children. I don't even know this young man, but I am so proud of him for sharing his pain so others may have a chance to be heard and demand change. It's time to demand change - NOW. Thank you

BARBARA 6-18-2008 @ 10:11AM

We as a society are failing to teach our children respect--we put more into our children getting a good grade on the end of grade tests and fail to stop the violence going on in the schools. A parent who reports an incident is told the matter will be looked into and kids will be kids. Students are told to report bullying to the staff only to have it swept under the "rug". The bully seems to have more rights then the victum. This young man should be commended for putting a face to an issue many of us are unable to accept. School boards use terminology like "too graphic" to prevent light to be shone on what is truly occurring in our schools. If it isn't shown, they believe the issue will some how disappear. Funny... after all the school shootings that have occurred in the last ten years due to bullying you would think we would want to bullying to stop. I say let this brave young man show his video to the world and let the world have a personal glimpse into the matter instead of a dry, impersonal brochure created for clinical practices.

michelle 6-18-2008 @ 10:16AM

GREAT JOB PATRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is NOT to graphic. Children can watch TV, Movies or Video games and see more graphic images. Video's like this should be included in the Stop Bulling programs around the country. NOBODY should be afraid to go to school.

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