Mom Says Son Is Bullied: 'It Rips My Heart Into A Million Pieces'

AQUEBOGUE, NY — An Long Island mother who says her 9-year old-son has been relentlessly and agonizingly bullied for years has turned to social media to shine a light on a situation she believes is only escalating.

"As parents we send our children to school each day in undoubted trust . . . knowing their safety and well-being will be on the forefront," said the mom, who asked not to be identified so that her son's identity would be protected. "I’m having a serious loss of faith in Aquebogue Elementary School. My son has been bullied, ongoing, by the same child, since his first day of kindergarten."

The distraught mom alleges that on her son's first day of school, the bully "slammed my son's face into the bus window, causing his teeth to go through his lip," and causing a bloody nose.

For the next two years, she said, her son would often wake up and vomit, ridden with anxiety over having to go to school.

The bully, she claims, "pushed him on the playground, to the ground, punching him in the stomach. The school administration failed my son then. Several similar incidents occurring over the years with the same child, pushing, kicking, punching and tripping my son."

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But on Wednesday, the mom said she needed to speak out, enraged by what she said is the "ongoing assault on my son by this same child, over and over."

On Wednesday, she alleged, her fourth-grader was "choked" so badly that he almost lost consciousness.

The mom claims the student was suspended — a fact that the district did not confirm.

A statement from Aurelia Henriquez, the Riverhead superintendent of schools, said, "The district is in the process of an internal investigation and is unable to comment on individual student matters, which are protected by student privacy laws."

She added that, like public and private schools in New York State, the Riverhead Central School District "strictly adheres" to the Dignity for All Students Act.

That act, she said, states that no student shall be subjected to harassment or discrimination by employees or students on school property or at a school function based on their actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.

"Additionally," Henriquez said, "the district continues to work proactively to train staff and implement bullying prevention and character education programs. These programs are designed specifically to educate our students about embracing our differences, being upstanders and offer safeguards to protect them."

She added: "The district has zero tolerance for any bullying, harassment or other inappropriate behavior and any such actions will be met with the appropriate disciplinary measures."

According to the mom, efforts by the district are "just not enough." She said she filed a report with Riverhead Police and her attorney.

Riverhead Police confirmed that reports were filed from parents of both children involved but could give no further information because the matter involved juveniles. Police said the investigation is being handled by the school district.

"I’ve had it with the administration's weak attempts" to protect her child, the mom said. "Today is a sad day in my family, as we had total faith and trust in Aquebogue Elementary School to keep our son safe" but were repeatedly let down.

"It’s now time to take a stand against bullying," she went on. "This is not 'kids will be kids,' this is nothing shy of assault and parents should know what is happening in this school."

In an interview with Patch, the mom said the bullying has been going on for years and has also included verbal threats against her family.

During the incidents, the mom asked why no school official intervened. "Where were the aides? The teachers? The adults?" During Wednesday's incident, the mom thanked another student who helped her son during the incident when she said he was being choked.

The mom was also concerned that after she posted about the incident on the Aquebogue PTO's Facebook page, it was removed with an explanation.

Angela Curella-Ohlbaum of the PTO did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the post, which said that the PTO "does not condone bullying behavior of any kind. Tonight a very disturbing story of bullying was posted. We are saddened and upset by these accounts. We regretfully are removing the post to protect the children and all parties involved."

The mom said she believes the PTO, which she said alleged that her son stole a pencil eraser, "is being targeted at this point. . . My son is a good kid. He's never been in trouble."

The bullying, she said, has caused her son extreme anxiety over the years.

"It breaks my heart," she said. "It rips my heart into a million pieces."

Patch file photo.