Hello
Thank you for your letter. I’m really glad that you decided to contact me. It sounds like you have been having a really tough time at school; you’ve told me that this bullying has been happening for a few years. What these kids are doing is wrong and your school has a duty to take all racism and bullying seriously. You were very brave to tell your teachers and the head but it sounds like you are feeling unsupported since everything still carried on.
I’m glad to hear that you love your religion and do not bully back, it’s good to be proud of who you are.
Sometimes it can take telling the school or an adult that you trust more than once about what’s going on before they get a clear picture of how serious it is and how much it’s affecting you. Perhaps you could think of an adult that you trust that you could tell about what’s happening and ask them to support you to tell the teachers and the head again.
Keeping a bullying diary can be a good way of showing other people what’s happening. You can keep a record of who does what, when and how it makes you feel. When you are ready you can show it to the teacher or an adult that you trust. That way they can get a better idea of what you are going through.
It seems as though some of these bullies who have been making fun of you at school also don’t understand the difference between Sikhism and Hinduism or between races. Perhaps it could be an idea to speak to your teacher about doing a class lesson that will better inform the other kids.
You can find more information and peer support on bullying and racism on the ChildLine message boards. You are welcome to contact a ChildLine counsellor at anytime, that way you can talk through everything that’s happening and speak about what you’d like to do. You can do that by using 1-2-1 online chat or by phone on 0800 1111 (this is a free number, even from a mobile, and it won’t show up on your bill).
Take care
Sam