Hoërskool Monument learner Brandon Pheiffer’s high school career started on a high note – taking a stand against bullies.
Vicky Pheiffer told the News about her son, Brandon who once was bullied himself.
She said that Brandon’s first encounter with bullies was when he was in Grade R and his sister Abigail was in Grade 7. They went to the same school.
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One day, another Grade 7 learner who rode the same bus they did every day started bullying and hitting Brandon, and even though Abigail tried to help, her attempts were futile.
It was about two weeks before they told their mother what was happening, and Vicky told Abigail to speak to the principal about the situation.
Vicky said after speaking to the principal, they were eventually helped. The boy and his parents were called in and for months afterward the vice principal checked in with Abigail every day to ask if there were any problems on the bus.
Vicky and her husband, Wynand, are members of the Wicked Wheels Biker Club and by association Brandon also wears the club patch.
“In the last few years Bikers Against Bullies South Africa (BABSA) has been asked for support on some occasions, and we always try to help,” she explained.
Even though BABSA wanted to escort Brandon to school on 15 January, they could not attend. He then had Freddie Harmse – Mr Wrestling – from the Steel Knights; Juan Kruger from Leader of the Pack; Gavin van der Berg from CMA; and his dad from Wicked Wheels at his side.
“Even though there were only a few bikers, it made a world of difference. When I collected Brandon at school, he told me he had seen another Grade 8 learner being bullied. He stepped in and told the bully to back off,” Vicky said proudly.
Mr Wrestling also visits schools across South Africa to teach about bullying.
What can you do if your child is being bullied?
Vicky Pheiffer suggests you talk to the school first.
“Children who are being bullied are often fearful and worry that any action will worsen the problem. The solution is to make a parental decision to talk to the school,’ she said.
She believes that cooperation between the family and the school is key and that parents should let the school take responsibility for helping the bullies to change their ways.
“Nowadays a lot of schools have a zero-tolerance policy to bullying. If it gets worse or escalates and the school is unable to assist, the next step would be to get the police involved.”
Signs that your child could be bullied:
• Refusing to go to school
• Frequent stomach aches, headaches and other physical complaints
• Agitation and moodiness
• Sleep disturbance (including nightmares and difficulty falling asleep)
• Changes in eating habits
• Bed-wetting
• Appearing sad, lonely, anxious and/ or depressed without a known reason
• Avoiding peer interactions after school and on weekends
• Talking about being alone at school
• Increased self-blame
• Feeling helpless or worthless
• Afraid of riding the bus
• Sudden change in school performance
• Any communication about suicide (i.e. ‘No one would care if I wasn’t alive’)
• Bullying can make a child feel helpless. Kids may want to handle it on their own to feel in control again. They may fear being seen as weak or a tattletale
• Kids may fear backlash from the kid who bullied them
• Bullying can be a humiliating experience. Kids may not want adults to know what is being said about them, whether true or false. They may also fear that adults will judge them or punish them for being weak
• Kids who are bullied may already feel socially isolated. They may feel like no one cares or would understand
• Kids may fear being rejected by their peers. Friends can help protect kids from bullies, and kids can fear losing this support
