Charlotte Central School

Bully haven with oblivious administration, useless guidance counselors, and teachers in denial. A new principal is beginning in 2015-16 school year. I hope she tackles this problem. My review is based on my experience with three children at school from 2007-12.

A rampant bullying problem exists at CCS, one the administration does not properly address. Ultimately, as many families before us, we moved out of the district due to it. If your child is cookie cutter normal, he or she may be fine at CCS. If your child is different, unique, or refuses to conform (i.e., won't follow fashion dictated by 13 year old mean girls or play sports with rowdy boys or may be LGBT) he or she will be harassed, targeted, and bullied until life is hell. For instance, one of my daughters refused to conform in seventh grade - she didn't want to wear pink, worship Bieber, carry lip gloss, and date anyone (dating frequently begins at this school as early as 5th grade). As a result, she was told on a daily basis that she was a freak, ugly, fat, stupid, and should harm or kill herself. When reporting such behavior to the then employed guidance counselor Mrs. B., my daughter found no support. Instead, she was asked if she was lying because "these kids are so nice' or had done anything to warrant such treatment. The final straw was a petition shoved into her locker, signed by EVERY child in the 2011-12 seventh grade requesting that my daughter kill herself.

Given the wealth of the community and the need of the school for community fundraising and additional financial support, it's clear, although not in any way defensible, why they don't tackle the issue of bad behavior with the parents of these kids. It goes without saying that approaching mommy and daddy directly about their budding sociopath accomplishes nothing. The kids learned this entitled toxic behavior at home after all.