The father of a 14-year-old West Hills boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being sucker-punched by another teen has launched a website and a movement to combat bullying and random acts of violence, while promoting kindness. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, Ed Peisner has launched Jordanstrong.org in an effort to help prevent what happened to his son Jordan, who can no longer play sports or skateboard like other kids as a result of the injury he suffered. He calls it a “kindness” movement.
A Voice Against Bullying
Jordan, a freshman at El Camino Real Charter High School, had just exited a Wendy’s at a West Hills Shopping Center with two friends on December 2, 2016 when a boy he did not know punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground. Jordan suffered a blood clot in the brain, a concussion, a skull fracture and a ruptured eardrum from the incident. Two juveniles were arrested on suspicion of felony assault and felony conspiracy respectively. The attack was also videotaped and posted on Snapchat by another person, who was not arrested.
Ed Peisner said he wants to be a voice against bullying, cyber-bullying and for kindness and compassion. He rightly points out that children these days are desensitized to violence and look at it as a way of gaining credibility or followers. He hopes his campaign will serve as a resource for children, parents and caregivers. Peisner is also working on legislation that would add consequences for recording and uploading of a crime online.
As school bullying lawyers who stand up for the rights of injured victims and their families, we commend Mr. Peisner for his positive and proactive stance on this important issue facing our children today. We thank him for promoting the ideals of kindness and compassion, which are very much needed in today’s world.
What Can Parents Do?
California does have some of the strongest anti-bullying laws in the nation. Our schools are required not only to have a strong anti-bullying policy that spells out prohibited bases for bullying, but are also required to adopt a specific process for receiving and investigating complaints. School personnel – be it teachers or staff – are required to intervene and take immediate action if they see a kid being bullied.
There are a number of steps parents and caregivers can take to resolve a situation. First, talk to your child each day so you know what’s going on in school. If you suspect bullying, contact your child’s teacher or school principal to discuss the specific incidents. Put your complaint in writing with the date, details and nature of the incident. Talk to the school’s guidance counselor or a teacher who is trained to deal with bullying. Look at the school’s policies and code of conduct to ensure that the administration is taking necessary steps to prevent acts of violence.
If a school or school district refuses to work with you toward a reasonable resolution, it might be in your best interest to contact an experienced school bullying attorney. If your child has been injured in an attack, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you evaluate your options.