The Art of being a jerkoff

The BBQ Pit
1

I used to enjoy going to school. Well, I still enjoy going to school, for some classes but not nearly as much as I used to. Now the thought of school makes me feel sick, both physically and mentally.

And this was a direct result of one class, the one class where I used to have the most fun where I could be creative.

Art.

It’s chaos day in and day out, where all the troublemakers can congregate and take a collective shit on the people who are there to actually learn. Most people in the class are there to have a class they can skip, that the can go to smoke joints, or come to class stoned. Why they can’t they fucking smoke joints AND stay home is beyond me, because as much would be accomplished.

Plenty of complaints:

  1. I am getting physically abused. Nearly every fucking day, even though I have complained and my teacher has SEEN it happening, yet has done nothing but verbally reprimand them. I am not talking small things, like being poked (although it does contain things like that), I’m talking about getting hit hard with fists, getting stabbed with a pencil hard enough for me to have it puncture and start bleeding (I admit it was small, but it fucking hurt for days afterwards), getting the table shoved into me, etc.

I would try and fight back, even if it is probably not the correct way to solve such a situation, but they are physically bigger and stronger then me. Even if I complain to my art teacher, they have the power of numbers over me. I’ve complained to highers up. Nothing done, and I still get abused by those grinning jackasses.

  1. My artwork is ripped up, or insulted or scribbled on. My art is personal (as I suspect it is with all artists), and it hurts me to see it destroyed or put down as almost as much as me getting punched. I’d like to be able to do something that would hurt them as much as when they tear up my work, but that’d accomplish nothing and I’d be being just as immature as they are, because school is pretty much a joke to them, they are [mostly] rich people who will coast along on their parent’s money for their lives.

It’s got to the point where I draw halfhearted work, because all my good work will end up in pieces, or scribbled on. I’ve got a fucking neurosis about drawing, where I get little enjoyment over something I liked and spent hours on before. I want to be an artist when I’m older, hopefully a professional one.

Congratulations to those who made it so that I am physically ill at the thought of going to school, who took out enjoyment out of school, Mission accomplished. Even now as I type this the thought of going to school gives me a feeling of being stabbed to the chest with a burning poker.

I loved being at school. I loved my socials class. I loved learning, and I loved teaching. I have taught my socials class twice before for a couple of minutes because I knew about the subject far more than my peers. I’m not normally very good at speaking in front of crowds, and I usually stutter and stammer in my talking, but I never faltered during those two times. I felt better about speaking in front of people, and voicing my opinion. Now I sometimes can’t even get myself out of bed because I’m so depressed.

The saddest part? The principal, my parents and the counselors at the school know everything. These jerkoffs have continued to do it, with a occasional “Don’t do that!” from the art teacher. Sorta makes me wish for a reform of corporeal punishment.

2

With your resources re: administration exhausted, consider going to the police. What you’re talking about is assault and destruction/vandalism of property. Both of these things are illegal. I loved being at school too, until my experiences pretty well matched up with yours exactly.

And on a less depressing note, are you able to take a class or two at the local community college? Find out what requirements they have and see if you can’t supplement a class or two from your HS curriculum with one from a college. Art in particular, I think you will find, is much more serious in college than in HS, since in HS people (ultimately) are doing it because they have to, and in college this is not the case as much.

YMMV and all that. But do consider, at least, pursuing an avenue with more teeth than the obviously weak administration.

3

(((Aslan2))) I know how you feel. I was bullied in school quite a bit myself, as were, I believe, a LOT of other people on this board.

You were stabbed with a pencil and all the art teacher said was, “Now, now, children. Play nice!”?!? That’s assault, dear. If your teacher, parents, principal, and counselors refuse to do anything, then the VERY NEXT TIME you get punched, poked, or stabbed, leave the class, march straight to the nearest phone, and call the police. You should not feel so threatened by the nimrods in that class that it makes you physically ill to think of going to school.

If that seems a little extreme to you, you might try boycotting. At the beginning of the class, go in, gather the supplies you’ll need, and take them to the principal’s office. Spread it all out on his/her desk. When you are asked what you are doing, flatly explain that you are tired of being victimized and seeing your work destroyed in what used to be your favorite class, and until something is done about it, you will be working where you feel safe from now on.

From what you’ve described, the adults in this scenario have basically left your balls twisting in the wind, and that sucks. If these kids were adults and pulling this kind of shit in the workplace, they’d have been fired and possibly jailed long before now. You should not have to put up with this. No one should.

4

How am I supposed to prove it, though? As of now I don’t have bruises(It’s been a while since I’ve been to school) or lasting marks, and I’d imagine it’d be even harder proving conclusively that they did vandalism/destruction of property.

Thanks for the college advice, though. Perhaps I could do it this summer.

5

I’d like to say that none of this would’ve happend if I weren’t in HER class. The only other art teacher gets respect, you won’t hear anybody call him “Bitch” underneath their breath. Strangely, for the elective classes theirs usually two teachers, one the complete reverse of each other. One good, one the absouloute hellspawn demons from the sixth circle of hell who is such a bad teacher that’d you probably need to take the course grade below it again after his/her classes.

6

I’m vaguely certain your school would crap in their pants if you called the cops. Seriously, just do it. You think people have to prove they’ve been raped? “Hello, I’ve been assaulted by a gang of hoodlums at (insert school here).” Cops show up, all of a sudden the administration starts taking things seriously.

Unless you live in Scottsdale, AZ, this should work.

7

Whatever you do, don’t stand up for yourself.

8

J Kat and Marli, I’d do that. If I didn’t have the feeling that I’d be calling cops to come here, while someone is murdering someone who dialled 911 and their’d be no one else to get there in time. Plus, I would attempt to do it but then I’d get too scared, I normally do when attempting to do stuff like this, and also because if they manage to get off scot free(or a good talkin’ to :rolleyes: )they could very well kick my ass.

And Brutus, I have standed up for myself. And gotten my ass kicked. :slight_smile:

9

Then do it again. And again. Take self-defense classes. Do what you need to. I promise you the bullies won’t stop until they no longer percieve you as weak.

10

Ok. When I go in, the next time they do anything to me, I’ll punch him hard in the stomach, and do the same for all 10 of his other friends. Self defense works if you’re facing off against a couple of people, not 1/3 of the class.

Believe me, I’ve seen them fight before. If a buddy is getting beat by up they all go for him.

11

Aslan2, do what the others mentioned. However, I’d take this up with the boy’s dean first. No action? Call the cops.

Is it possible for you to transfer to the other teacher’s class?

I went through the exact same shit when I was young. I’d study calligraphy during recess, leave the classroom to strain the potatoes and come back to find ink “mysteriously” spilled on my work. I even found my Tot stapler that another student had stolen from me and marked over my name on (easily discerned). Guess who got told to go stand outside in the corridor for causing trouble?

Consider taking a small tape recorder to catch any comments or threats made by these shitheads. Whatever you do, do something, or it will only get worse. Consider letting them steal a box of chocolates you have “accidentally” left out.

All of them previously loaded with Ex-Lax, of course.

12

I’ve done some thought. It’s much too late in the game to transfer or complain, AGAIN, with about ~10 days left before school break. Perhaps for continual ignorance of my complaints, I should call the police on the last day of school as a parting gift?

13

Or you could try my subtly more awesome method.

14

Great, then get charged with poisoning them or get beaten on 10X worse in revenge. No, you have to be squeaky clean in order to get the upper hand in this situation.

Get hard evidence such as tape recordings, vandalised artwork, polaroids of injuries immediately after the act. You need to document their misdeeds AND the school’s negligence in dealing with the situation then take it to the Principal. If he/she does nothing, then go to the police.

You could also threaten to sue. Much as I hate the litigious turn society has taken, I think you would be fully justified and it would scare the crap out of the school authorities.

15

Seems Aslan and j_kat snuck in while I was posting.
My response was meant to refer to Zenster’s idea of poisoning them.

16

Speaking as a 911 dispatcher, trust me, that’s not a problem. Unless you live in a one-horse town where the sole police officer is named Barney and carries a single round in his shirt pocket. Will your wimpy-ass art teacher at least back up your statement if you do call the police? As I see it, it’s either that or just keep your mouth shut and take it, which not only harms you, but confirms these assholes sense of superiority and entitlement. I can understand how you’d be uncomfortable going to the police now with a tale of past unreported harassment. But if it happens AGAIN, leave the class immediately and call the police. Make THEM photograph the bruises and marks. You’re not wasting their time. That’s what they’re there for.

17

I second Marlitharn’s advice. If the school isn’t listening to you (and just why the hell not, anyway? Sounds like they need a swift kick to the fundament themselves), then the police are the next step. That, as Marlitharn says, is what they’re for.

18

You won’t call the police because you’re afraid they’ll kick your ass.

Meanwhile, they… kick your ass.

19

Unless his post was changed by a mod before I saw it, Zenster said “Ex-Lax”. Does Ex-Lax count as poisoning (IANAD)?

Aslan, you’re right about not being able to fight a gang (which these people are, even if they don’t have insignia). So call the cops.

{{{{{{{{{{{Aslan}}}}}}}}}}}}

Jesus…Tearing up your art…I can’t even think about that…

20

It may have something to do with the massive budget cut for the ejumacatational system(thanks Gordon Cambell). The only solution I’ve been given after complaining is that I should stay home. Which I found just a little saddening.

As a side note, I notice that repeat offenders of various rule breaking(like smoking weed on school grounds, stink bombs, or threatening staff members with pointy objects) tend to be treated lightly, where as when the A+ student with a perfect record gets in trouble and it’s “Oh where did we go so wrong with Johnny? We failed in raising him and now we’re paying!” after Johnny said “Fuck”.