Student speaks up about school bullying

Madison High School is under fire by one family for bullying that allegedly happened on a bus, carrying the Bobcat baseball team.

A sophomore on the team has come forward to tell his story of what he says happened on that bus to him and his teammates.

Madison High School was recognized two years ago at the National Conference on bullying for its efforts to reduce bullying.

However, the Parkinson family said the school is not living up to that honor.

Dustin Parkinson recounts the bullying that took place prior to his experience,”What I saw… he was the kid was held down while he was sleeping another kid pulled down his pants and put his private parts on the kid that was sleeping.”

Parkinson said when he witnessed another teammate being bullied he did not tell administrators, fearing punishment.

“I was scared if I say something and it gets back to head coach or whatever I would be punished for standing up,” Parkinson said.

Parkinson says more recently he found himself on the receiving end of bullying.

A week ago, he was on the bus heading back from a game with his teammates and he said he was called to the back of the bus where he was forced to watch porn on another student’s cellphone.

He said a student then flashed his genitals.

“I was shown inappropriate things in the back of the bus,” Parkinson said.

When his parents heard of their son’s experience, they got involved and contacted school administrators.

Madison High School Assistant Superintendent Randy Lords said in a statement: “After a thorough high school investigation, the students involved have been disciplined according to district policy and rules…. We are not permitted to release student names or discuss specific consequences… In addition to responding appropriately, we are wanting to prevent incidents like this from happening again. We have put into place safeguards that include, additional training of all faculty, staff and students.”

James Parkinson said administrators shouldn’t try to sweep this under the carpet.

“Teaching your kid the right thing, knowing when to stand up and not let something get brushed under the rug. I trust that if we don’t do something here no one will know what happened and what happens two years from now?” JamesParkinson said.

He also said, “I just want them to be accountable.”

The Rexburg Police Department is continuing its investigation to see if any actual laws were broken in this case.