Tenn. mom charged after bus bullying of deaf son

[Miss-Delectable]

Tenn. mom charged after bus bullying of deaf son - Houston Chronicle

A mom who was arrested after confronting students on a school bus about bullying her deaf son said she was responding to his telephone call telling her that he had been punched in the face again.

Christa Green was arraigned Wednesday in Marion County on 13 counts of assault and one count of burglary, even though she didn't touch anyone, according to WRCB-TV in Chattanooga (Mother confronts bullies, charged with assault and burglary - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports ).

Her 18-year-old son, Tavis, was also charged with one count of assault after the confrontation on the bus that had 12 other students and the driver aboard.

Green said Tavis has been bullied all his life and has been beaten up on occasion. She said she has talked to school administrators in the past but nothing has ever been done.

"You don't know how it affects the children that you're picking on, mentally, physically and emotionally," Green said.

Director of schools Mark Griffith said Wednesday that Green had approached him in the past about her son and protective measures were taken.

He said Green previously "channeled it through the school itself and this is the first incident we've had."

A judge Wednesday allowed Green to remain free on a $3,500 bond pending an Oct. 12 hearing. Her attorney, Graham Swafford, said Wednesday after the hearing that his client did not assault anyone and was only "trying to protect her son."

"I think this is a matter that the school ought to address and it shouldn't be raised to the level" of criminal charges," Swafford said. He said Tavis had been bullied before, "last year bloodied and everything," and recently had a device inserted in his ear.

Swafford said he has told his client to drive Tavis, a senior, to school.

A public defender appointed to represent Tavis did not return a telephone message seeking comment.

Green said that when he called Sept. 22 her "immediate reaction was to go get my son." She said she got on the bus and confronted two teenagers who had been bullying Tavis, who was born deaf.

School bus driver Stanley Cookston said he had seen Tavis get hit but tried to stop Green when she boarded the bus.

"When she got up there I put my hands out and that's when he screamed, 'Don't be touching my mama!'" Cookston said.

Green said she has bruises that show Cookston put his hands on her.

Prosecutors said a person can be charged with burglary if they enter a vehicle with the intent to commit assault, even if they don't touch anyone.

 

[deafdyke]

Not to defend the mom.....but it's very possible that she was SO frustrated with the inaction of the school, she just lost it. I experianced severe bullying too.....I remember I got an obscene letter once, and the boys who did it just got a slap on the wrist!

 

[VacationGuy234]

We are never going to know the whole story in this case and the media always gets it wrong. I'm sure on both sides could have handled it better. If I had to guess, I'd say the cops knew one of the kids on the bus and that is why it ended with the arrest

It's a tough world and you have to be careful out there.

 

[sallylou]

Why didn't the bus driver do anything to stop the bullies before the mom did? Around here you can throw kids off the bus for being bullies.

 

[deafdyke]

And you know what? Severe bullying is too common with dhh kids. It's almost as bad as it is with GLB kids!

 

[FadedRose]

And you know what? Severe bullying is too common with dhh kids. It's almost as bad as it is with GLB kids!

Worst actually...at least in my case. I was taunted to the point my parents switched me to a different middle school in the middle of the school year. I was in 7th grade. It started in grade school third grade and never let up until I went to college. I had no issues in college. I don't like to share much about my school years but with all the kids killing themselves over it...
I will not remain silent anymore. People do not understand how bullying can affect a person to such a degree that they kill themselves over it. I was there. I did try to commit suicide when I was in middle school and at least twice in high school. It was from bullying. People who are disabled or thought to be disabled as in my case...Deafness to me isn't a disability, seem to suffer the consequences of bullying more so than any other group. Disagree with me if you want but I was there and had it so bad that I tried to kill myself. I will not mention the methods I used but when it's that bad and that is your only escape the thought of death brings profound peace. I remember as a kid praying to God to take me in my sleep. I'd lay awake in my bed and cry into my pillow and ask God to take me home that night and that I didn't want to wake up the next morning and I'd ask him why me. Why did you create me, why did you allow me to be born this way? I'd ask if this was his idea as a joke. All I wanted was to be like my hearing peers...hearing and able to talk without sounding like a moron.
as a result of the bullying I am a proud life long loner...by choice. Those that try to get to know me at work or anyone in general have found it impossible. Hey, I never had a friend to begin with except Deaf ones. Why should I start now?

The sad thing is this kid will end up the same as me if the bullying is as bad as mine was. He'll be alone for the rest of his life unable to allow others in. This needs to be stopped. Not only is bullying killing kids it's also changing them for life and although people say when you grow up it'll get better...
it doesn't. The memories and scars are forever there. There is no amount of therapy that can cure what this does to you. It kills the soul.

literally-it kills you. I'm glad to see this topic has finally become something that is being discussed on a national level. If this had happened when I was in school I don't know, maybe it would have helped. I doubt it though.