Re: Help with hazing issue (may get controversial)
Well, I would be hesitant to go to the authorities too, simply because I went to a school that was extremely unhelpful when it came to these sorts of issues. In fact, in my case, teachers literally saw bullying behavior going on, but did nothing because they were uncomfortable dealing with a blind child themselves. This gave me some serious, persisting issues trusting anyone in a position of authority. I hope for your sake that they aren't like that, because I know a lot of schools try to sweep such things under the rug so that they don't lose state funding. Zero tolerance policies are usually just lip service, particularly if the bully's parents are well-known/well-liked in the community.
Having said that, you still have to try, or rather, her parents do. Going up the chain of command is the best way to be heard about anything, so that if it does become necessary to expose this to the media, you'll have that on your side, that you tried to go through all the official channels first.
As for the kid getting therapy, let's make one thing clear. While it's noble of you all to believe that he's just a little tragic, and that he can change given time, which he probably could, he still has to want to do it. Therapy can't work unless the person wants to better themselves. I'd say that even a small child receiving play therapy won't make any progress unless they bond with the therapist and see a reason to comply. Can we please not go down the slippery slope of, "abusers abuse because their lives are hard?" There very well may be truth to it, and, let's call a spade a spade here, bullying is a form of abuse, a precursor, if you will, to later domestic violence, but using a soft touch, particularly for kids who have demonstrated actual violent tendencies as this guy has clearly done, isn't the best approach. I think he might need to be scared straight, not by any form of retaliation, but by some form of punishment that sticks.
Whatever happens, I hope that this gets resolved in a manner that's suitable for all involved. In my own case, I only received some form of closure when I learned that my old elementary school, where most of the worst of the things that happened to me took place, had been closed down and demolished. The only thing that possibly could have made me happier in that scenario would have been if the place had been burned to the ground, and then the ashes pissed on. I know that's not right of me to think, but when you go through enough shit, and literally no one will help you, you don't tend to forget that in a hurry. I hope that this situation isn't quite so extreme, and that there will be people in your friend's corner to help her not only with stopping this kid, but also the aftermath of such a traumatic event.
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